Kurchatov, Russia

A delegation led by the chief of the United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspected Russia's Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, which Russia has accused Ukraine of targeting, in an act of "nuclear terrorism". In recent weeks, fighting has been raging at regions that are 30 km from the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant in Western Russia, after Ukraine made a surprise offensive and incursion. The Kursk nuclear power generation facility is among the largest in Russia, with more units under construction at the same location.

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On Thursday, August 27, the IAEA delegation headed by Director General Rafael Grossi visited the sites of the Kursk NPP and the Kursk II Nuclear Power Plant, and the nearby town of Kurchatov. The visit was organised at the invitation of the Chief of Russia's Nuclear Power agency Rosatom Alexey Likhachev.

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"The IAEA delegation visited the site of the first and the second phases of the NPP and assessed the plant’s operation against the background of relentless Ukrainian provocations," Rosatom said. 

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In recent weeks, Russia has been making allegations regarding Ukraine's attempts to target the nuclear power generation facility. There are unconfirmed reports from last week of Russian air defence systems shooting down Ukrainian drones in the Kursk region, some of which are said to have been near spent nuclear fuel storage facilities. Russian President Putin had also reportedly mentioned Ukraine attempting a nighttime strike at the Kursk Nuclear power plant.

"The IAEA Director General could witness the impact of the strikes launched by Ukraine against the industrial site of the Kursk NPP and had an opportunity to assess the nuclear safety risks posed by attacks on the facility," added the Russian nuclear power agency.

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi was able to see that the Kursk NPP Unit 3 continues to operate at its installed capacity, and Unit 4 has been on scheduled preventive maintenance. The design features of RBMK-type reactors were demonstrated to the IAEA director general. The IAEA delegation also observed the progress of the Kursk II NPP construction, which is proceeding as planned, Rosatom said. 

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"The safety and security of all nuclear power plants is of central and fundamental concern to the IAEA. Since new developments and increased levels of military activity in the vicinity of the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, I have been closely following developments on the ground, especially with respect to the plant," Grossi had said, before his visit to the Kursk facility.

The results of the IAEA delegation's visit are to be discussed by the chiefs of Rosatom and IAEA in Kaliningrad, Russia.