IAEA should take ZNPP beyond Russia's aggression against Ukraine - former Energy Minister Orzhel

He said this on Espreso TV. 

“The main thing that the IAEA should do is to take the ZNPP out of the conflict and Russia's aggression against Ukraine. That is, it should be a demilitarized zone, even if it is controlled by the UN military or other military. The ZNPP should definitely be outside the war that Russia has started against Ukraine. And this should be determined by all actors, not only Ukraine and Russia, but also by international organizations,” the former Energy Minister emphasized.

Oleksiy Orzhel noted that Ukrainian personnel should work at the plant to ensure safe operation of Zaporizhzhia NPP.

“The occupying forces violate the principles of safe operation of nuclear facilities, so it is the IAEA's obligation to demand compliance with safety principles. But the main thing today is the demilitarization of ZNPP and then eventually transferring it under the control of Ukraine,” Orzhel said.

• On the night of June 6, Russians blew up the dam of the Kakhovka HPP (read more about it here). Energoatom stated that the explosion of the Kakhovka HPP could have negative consequences for ZNPP, but the situation is currently under control.

• On June 7, the mayor's office in Enerhodar said that residents should leave the city, as the situation at the plant could get out of control at any time.

• The IAEA also said that if the rate of water level drop continues, the ZNPP won't be able to pump water from the Kakhovka reservoir in two days.

• However, on the evening of June 8, the IAEA noted that according to preliminary expert conclusions, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant should be able to pump water out of the reactor cooling reservoir after its level drops below the critical 12.7 meters. However, for accurate information, the IAEA experts requested access to the place where the water level in the reservoir is measured, as well as to the Zaporizhzhia TPP canal adjacent to the ZNPP.

• On June 9, Energoatom put the last power unit of ZNPP into cold shutdown mode.