Kurchatov: The chief of the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, issued a stark warning about the increasing risk of a nuclear accident after his visit to Russia’s Kursk nuclear power plant on Tuesday. According to Grossi, the situation surrounding the plant is serious.
“The danger or possibility of a nuclear accident has emerged near here,” Grossi stated, highlighting the ongoing conflict in the Kursk region. Ukrainian forces are said to be operating just 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the plant, which has been a frequent target of attacks, according to Russia. However, Ukraine has not yet responded to these accusations.
Grossi, who leads the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), emphasized during a press conference that the plant’s vulnerability is heightened by the absence of a protective dome. He explained that although the facility is still functioning under relatively normal conditions, this proximity to active conflict makes its security situation particularly precarious.
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Russia’s state nuclear energy company, Rosenergoatom, confirmed that Grossi inspected the plant’s Number Three reactor, which is currently operating at planned capacity. Additionally, Rosenergoatom noted that the plant’s fourth reactor has been undergoing scheduled maintenance since Sunday. Grossi was also briefed on the construction of a new reactor block at the site.
