Tue Feb 04 18:04:07 UTC 2025: ## IAEA Chief Warns of Nuclear Disaster Risk Amidst Russian Attacks on Ukraine’s Power Grid

**Kyiv, Ukraine** – The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, has issued a stark warning about the escalating risk of a nuclear accident in Ukraine due to continued Russian attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure. Grossi, who visited a key Ukrainian electrical substation on Tuesday, emphasized that damage to the power grid, even without direct strikes on nuclear plants, poses a significant threat to nuclear safety.

“A nuclear accident can result from a direct attack on a plant, but also from power supply disruption,” Grossi stated on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the vulnerability of the system. His visit included inspections of the Kyivska electrical substation and defensive measures against Russian strikes. He is scheduled to visit Russia later this week to discuss the situation, including the precarious state of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest.

Russia’s relentless bombardment of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure over the past three years, while avoiding direct attacks on nuclear facilities, has left the country heavily reliant on its three operational nuclear plants for over half its electricity. This dependence makes disruptions to the power supply extremely dangerous, as they can interrupt crucial reactor cooling processes.

Experts warn that even damage to nuclear switchyards outside plant perimeters can have catastrophic consequences. Oleksandr Kharchenko, a Ukrainian energy industry expert, stated that the loss of two such switchyards could lead to a prolonged energy crisis, lasting weeks.

Grossi’s visit follows a September agreement between Ukraine and the IAEA to monitor key substations in addition to nuclear plants. However, the continued vulnerability of these sites has led to increased scrutiny of Ukraine’s Energy Minister, German Galushchenko. Lawmakers recently called for his removal, citing alleged failures to adequately protect the critical infrastructure despite repeated warnings. The ongoing conflict and the heightened risk of a nuclear catastrophe underscore the urgency of the situation.

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