Ukraine Nears Last Nuclear-Safety Buffer After Russian Strikes

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(Bloomberg) — Ukraine warned that the three nuclear plants remaining under its operational control are close to their last line of safety buffers after Russian strikes degraded key power supplies. 

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Kyiv’s ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency told diplomats this week that additional Russian strikes against electricity substations will disconnect its remaining nuclear reactors from the power grid.

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“Any further degradation of transmission infrastructure would significantly increase the likelihood of nuclear power plants having to rely on emergency diesel generators to maintain essential safety functions, thereby elevating the overall nuclear risk profile,” Ukraine’s embassy wrote in a diplomatic note circulated Wednesday in Vienna.

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Months of Kremlin strikes have not only left millions of Ukrainians to endure winter without steady lighting and heat, they’ve also elevated the potential for a nuclear accident. 

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That’s because nuclear generation — unlike fossil fuel or renewable power plants — needs a constant flow of electricity to keep safety systems running. Without it, there’s a risk the fuel inside a reactor’s core can overheat, potentially resulting in a dangerous release of radiation.

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Diesel generators are the last line in defense in depth plans to maintain nuclear safety. Most stations maintain fuel stockpiles to ensure several weeks of operation if off-site power is lost. 

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Russian air strikes on Feb. 7 forced Ukraine’s nine reactors in operation to reduce power because of damage to the grid. Six additional reactors at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant have already been shutdown. 

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Last month, IAEA diplomats convened an emergency meeting to assess Ukraine’s deteriorating nuclear safety. The prospect of a nuclear accident is at “the very precipice of becoming a reality,” said Dutch Ambassador Peter Potman, who called for the extraordinary session. 

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Electricity substations maintain their stability by regulating high-voltage transmission on the grid. While Ukraine has thousands of them, there are 10 crucial nodes linked to atomic reactors. Their destruction could plunge the country into darkness and provoke a radiological emergency. 

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IAEA monitors in Ukraine are expected to provide a detailed risk assessment by next month. 

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