Space Travel News
CIVIL NUCLEAR
IAEA to meet on nuclear plant targeted in Ukraine conflict
IAEA to meet on nuclear plant targeted in Ukraine conflict
by AFP Staff Writers
Vienna (AFP) April 9, 2024

The International Atomic Energy Agency said it will hold a special meeting Thursday on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, Europe's biggest, that is at the centre of growing tensions in the Russia-Ukraine war.

The agency said Tuesday it had been informed of a new "attack" on the site in southern Ukraine that was occupied by Russian forces just after they launched their invasion in 2022.

The two sides have accused each other of staging drone attacks on the reactors in recent days.

The UN agency said in a statement that Russia and Ukraine had made separate requests for a meeting of the IAEA board of governors that would start at 1300 GMT.

Current board chairperson, Holger Martinsen of Argentina, called a meeting at short notice because of "the urgent nature of the requests received," according to an internal note seen by AFP.

In it's letter dated Monday, Russia demanded a meeting to consider "recent attacks and provocations" by Ukrainian forces against Zaporizhzhia.

Ukraine, which has denied staging any attacks, called for discussions on developments in the territory it controls and claims and the "safety" implications.

Russia says that the Zaporizhzhia was hit by drones on Sunday and Monday, accusing Ukraine forces each time.

Ukraine has accused Russia of staging the attack so that it could spread false information about its war rival.

The IAEA has a team at Zaporizhzhia which confirmed the attacks and one casualty, without saying who was responsible.

"This is a major escalation of the nuclear safety and security dangers facing the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant," it said Sunday.

In a statement, the IAEA said the team at Zaporizhzhia had on Tuesday "reported hearing bursts of rifle fire followed by a loud explosion" at "the same time that the ZNPP later said an incoming drone had detonated on the roof of the facility's training centre".

The training centre is just outside the perimeter of the plant, where the six reactors have been gradually shut down since the invasion.

The IAEA said it's team had not been given access to the attack site.

"Today's reported incident - although outside the site perimeter - is an ominous development as it indicates an apparent readiness to continue these attacks, despite the grave dangers they pose to nuclear safety and security and our repeated calls for military restraint," said IAEA director general Rafael Grossi in a statement.

"Whoever is behind them, they are playing with fire. Attacking a nuclear power plant is extremely irresponsible and dangerous, and it must stop," he added.

anb/tw/bp

X

Related Links
Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Science, Nuclear Technology
Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
CIVIL NUCLEAR
US nuclear industry upbeat on small reactors, despite setback
New York (AFP) April 7, 2024
Despite the recent cancellation of a next-generation US nuclear plant, backers of the carbon-free power source remain hopeful new projects will come on line by the end of the decade. Late last year, the US energy company NuScale announced it was pulling the plug on a small modular reactor (SMR) project in the western state of Idaho. The project - the sole SMR design yet to be approved by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission - faced exploding costs that took the estimated price from $5.3 billio ... read more

CIVIL NUCLEAR
CIVIL NUCLEAR
Looking back at Hinman Col: Sols 4146-4147

Perseverance uncovers a watery past on Mars

Continuing up the Channel: Sols 4139-4140

An Intriguing Mess: Sols 4141-4143

CIVIL NUCLEAR
Three companies in the running for NASA's next Moon rover

Unlocking the secrets of lunar soil for future moon construction

NASA's Artemis Program to enhance Lunar mobility with industry partners

In first, US directs NASA to create lunar time standard

CIVIL NUCLEAR
The PI's Perspective: Needles in the Cosmic Haystack

The Persistent Ices of Kuiper Belt Object 486958 Arrokoth

New study reveals potential "ice bombs" among Kuiper Belt Objects

Unlocking the Secrets of Eternal Ice in the Kuiper Belt

CIVIL NUCLEAR
First 'glory' on hellish distant world

CHEOPS identifies phenomenal 'Glory' on distant exoplanet WASP-76b

Uncovering the thermal pathways to life's origins

Unlocking the secrets of Earth's underground ecosystems

CIVIL NUCLEAR
Russia cancels rocket launch for second day running

SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites ahead of two weekend launches

DARPA awards Phase Four with contract for Very Low Earth Orbit Propulsion System

Starship's Third Launch: A Glimpse into the future of reusable launch vehicles

CIVIL NUCLEAR
Shenzhou 17 astronauts complete China's first in-space repair job

Tiangong Space Station's Solar Wings Restored After Spacewalk Repair by Shenzhou XVII Team

BIT advances microbiological research on Chinese Space Station

Chang'e 6 and new rockets highlight China's packed 2024 space agenda

CIVIL NUCLEAR
Climate warming endangers Antarctic meteorite collection

When and How to Spot the 'Devil Comet'

NEOWISE Achieves a Decade of Asteroid and Comet Surveillance from Space

Asteroid Bennu's samples available for global scientific scrutiny

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.