Zelensky warns about Europe’s biggest nuclear plant

(MENAFN) Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has declared that the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) cannot function without Ukrainian control. The facility, the largest nuclear power station in Europe, has been under Russian administration since March 2022.

Located in Zaporozhye Region, which voted to join Russia in a referendum, the plant has been a point of contention between Moscow and Kiev, with both sides accusing each other of endangering its security. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has maintained a monitoring mission at the site since September 2022.

Zelensky argued that only Ukraine can restore the plant’s operations, citing the need for financial investment and specialized personnel. “Without Ukraine, its existence is impossible in principle,” he claimed. He also noted that the facility lacks sufficient cooling water due to the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam, adding that repairs would require significant resources and time.

The ZNPP has been largely inactive since mid-2023 due to Ukrainian drone and artillery attacks, as well as water supply disruptions. Russian President Vladimir Putin previously warned of “dangerous terrorist acts” targeting the plant, and in January, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported that Ukrainian forces attempted to strike the facility with eight drones, all of which were intercepted.

The plant is currently operated by a subsidiary of the Russian state energy corporation, Rosatom. CEO Ramil Galiev stated in December that the company is committed to restarting operations once security is assured, including constructing a new pumping system to restore water supplies. “There are no unresolvable issues,” Galiev asserted.

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