IV. Attacks on nuclear installations in Ukraine and the response missions of the International Atomic Energy Agency

Chapter:

8. Nuclear disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation

Source:

SIPRI Yearbook 2024

Author(s):

Wilfred Wan, Vladislav Chernavskikh, Tytti Erästö, Vitaly Fedchenko

Ukraine has 15 operable nuclear reactors at four nuclear power plants (NPPs). In 2023 all four NPPs, as well as other nuclear installations, were subject to disruptions cause by either direct military attacks or by attacks (e.g. missile strikes) elsewhere in the Ukrainian electricity grid. Zaporizhzhia NPP (ZNPP)—the largest in Europe—continued to be occupied by Russian military forces. In addition, a large artificial body of water used by ZNPP as a source of cooling water—the Kakhovka Reservoir—ceased to exist after an explosion demolished the Kakhovka Dam in June 2023. This event caused significant environmental, social and economic damage to the region, as well as presenting yet another nuclear safety risk to the already severely impaired nuclear power plant. Attacks, disruptions and territory annexation by Russia continued to present extraordinary nuclear safety, security and safeguards challenges for the personnel of the Ukrainian facilities, for the state authorities and for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).¹