The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conducted inspections at parts of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant but has not confirmed the presence of any explosives for the moment. The agency is pressing for access to the entire site, with special emphasis on the roof area, to complete a full safety assessment. Reactors 3 and 4 are of particular concern, as Ukrainian officials have warned these units could be targeted for the deployment of improvised explosive devices by occupying forces.
In recent days and weeks, IAEA inspectors at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant have surveyed portions of the facility, including segments of the large cooling pool perimeter, and have walked the site in routine inspections. They reported no visible indications of mines or explosives along these paths, according to statements by Rafael Grossi, the IAEA Director General (IAEA, 2024).
Additional Access
The senior IAEA official used that moment to underscore the demand for “additional access” so the organization can definitively verify that there are no mines or explosives anywhere on the campus, including reactors 3 and 4, the turbine halls, and components of the plant’s cooling system. The objective is to confirm the on‑the‑ground facts and to prevent speculation or mixed messages about the site’s safety state. Independent verification by qualified experts is seen as essential to clarify the current situation rather than rely on competing narratives or unconfirmed claims.
Mutual accusations between Kyiv and Moscow have sparked international concern about a risk similar to other high‑profile incidents that could lead to a radiological release affecting large areas of Ukrainian and European territory. Ukrainian officials cautioned that Russian forces might attempt a misleading strike on the plant and then blame Ukraine, suggesting that explosive devices could be placed on the roofs of reactors 3 and 4 to misdirect observers. This underscores the need for transparent, on‑site validation by international monitors (IAEA, 2024).
From Moscow, statements emerged that an attack could occur under the cover of darkness, reflecting the volatile security environment surrounding the facility. With tensions high, the international community emphasizes the imperative of timely, factual reporting and restraint in actions that could escalate a crisis at a critical energy site (Rosatom statements, 2024).
During a May session of the United Nations Security Council, the IAEA’s leadership outlined five key principles to safeguard the plant. These include measures to prevent attacks on the facility and to ensure it does not become a storage site or base for weapons. The emphasis remains on keeping the plant’s electricity supply secure while avoiding the deployment of heavy weapons, launchers, artillery systems, ammunition, or tanks on the site—no small matter given the potential regional impact of any disruption (UN Security Council briefing, 2024).