Rafael Grossi, Director General of the IAEA, explained that cooling the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant depends on water from a reservoir whose level has fallen sharply after the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric dam was breached. He warned about the risks to the plant’s safety if cooling capacity worsens.
He noted that the Novaya Kakhovka dam suffered severe damage, which led to a pronounced drop in reservoir levels supplying the ZNPP for cooling. The IAEA chief emphasized that the prolonged loss of adequate cooling water could impair emergency diesel generators and threaten their operation.
Despite these concerns, Grossi stated that there is no immediate safety threat to the facility based on current evaluations. He added that ongoing assessments are critical as conditions change on the ground.
If the reservoir water level used for cooling falls below 12.7 meters, pumping to the plant could be disrupted. Earlier in the morning, measurements showed the level at 16.4 meters.
Grossi also pointed out that ZNPP has several alternative cooling sources. He highlighted a large cooling pond adjacent to the plant site as the principal backup, which he said could maintain cooling for several months if needed.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed concern about the situation at Zaporizhzhya and said that monitoring of developments is ongoing, as reported by Reuters.
No direct threats
The IAEA noted that plant experts were monitoring the situation closely and found no immediate danger to nuclear security at Zaporizhzhya. A Rosenergoatom representative, part of Rosatom, also stated that the dam collapse would not directly impact the plant, noting that the cooling system lies outside the identified risk zone.
ZNPP Director Yuri Chernichuk reassured that staff were managing the situation and that the cooling pool water level remained stable at 16.67 meters. He explained that cooling water used for spent fuel pools at Zaporizhzhya does not mix with the Kakhovka reservoir water. He also said five units were in cold shutdown, with one in hot shutdown, and that experts would compensate for the reservoir decrease through other technical measures.
Acting Governor of the Zaporizhzhya Region, Yevgeny Balitsky, reported a 2.5-meter drop in the water level within the plant’s area. He described the current level as unusual but not enough to threaten plant safety or regional security.
In an interview with Caution Media, ecologist Anatoly Batashev stated that the reduced water barrier height poses risks, although the immediate threat to the plant is limited. He cautioned that if hostilities escalate near the site, the plant could become a focal point of danger, highlighting broader environmental concerns tied to the incident.
The collapse of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric facility
In Kherson region, on June 6, the upper section of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric plant was destroyed. Vladimir Leontiev, head of Nova Kakhovka, attributed the damage to shelling, with Ukraine and Russia offering differing explanations for the incident. Authorities estimated that the flooding could affect dozens of settlements, prompting evacuations and planned relocations for residents in the flood zones downstream. Reports describe city streets submerged and wildlife appearing in public squares as the water level surged, reaching above ten meters in some areas.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned that the consequences of the attack threaten thousands of people and harm the environment, calling the event provocative amid ongoing conflict. The Russian Investigative Committee opened a case regarding an alleged terrorist act linked to the dam’s collapse, while Ukraine prepared to convene a United Nations Security Council meeting to discuss the incident and its fallout.
As developments unfold, observers emphasize the interlinked risks to energy infrastructure, regional stability, and environmental health, urging careful monitoring and verified information as the situation evolves.