Washington, D.C.—The following statement can be attributed to Maria Korsnick, president and chief executive officer of the Nuclear Energy Institute:
“We are following the tragic events taking place in Ukraine following the Russian invasion, and our hearts are with the Ukrainian people. Overnight, Russian forces attacked the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. NEI strongly condemns any military attacks on or near nuclear power plants and activities that prevent plant operations. We urgently call for the cessation of violence at nuclear facilities. We commend the courage and resilience of the men and women who continue to safely operate the Ukrainian nuclear fleet.
“NEI supports the creation of safe zones surrounding all nuclear power plants in Ukraine and endorses IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi’s proposal to negotiate a framework with the Ukrainians and Russians to uphold the principles of nuclear safety and protection of nuclear facilities.
“We are in close communication with our international partners and the IAEA. The IAEA is in daily contact with the Ukrainian regulator and will update the public as more information becomes available. The current update from IAEA of the situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant includes:
- Ukraine informed the IAEA that Russian forces had taken control of the site of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, but that the nuclear power plant continued to be operated by its regular staff and there had been no release of radioactive material.
- Ukraine informed the IAEA that a projectile overnight had hit a training building in the vicinity of one of the plant’s reactor units, causing a localized fire that was extinguished.
- The safety systems of the plant’s six reactors have not been affected and there has been no release of radioactive material.
- Radiation monitoring systems at the site are fully functional.
- Of the plant’s reactor units, Unit 1 is shut down for maintenance, Units 2 and 3 have undergone a controlled shut down, Unit 4 is operating at 60 percent power and Units 5 and 6 are being held “in reserve” in low power mode.
