IAEA urges Russia to show restraint after its attacks caused Ukrainian nuclear plants to lose power
Ukrainian nuclear power plants have stopped operations due to Russia's attack on the morning of 7 February. Such strikes put nuclear safety at risk.
Source: Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on X (Twitter); a statement of the IAEA Director General on Situation in Ukraine
Details: Grossi said Ukraine's nuclear plants were forced to stop generating electricity after a large-scale Russian strike on the morning of 7 February.
Grossi called for restraint, warning that further deterioration in Ukraine's power grid could have dangerous repercussions.
On Friday 6 February, Grossi said that "amid increased military activity impacting the Ukrainian electrical grid", three IAEA teams are visiting 10 substations critical to nuclear safety and security in Ukraine.
He said that incidents at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant in late January were further evidence of decreasing grid stability within Ukraine.
An IAEA team was informed that diesel generators for the New Safe Confinement and the Interim Spent Nuclear Fuel Dry Storage Facility at the site unexpectedly started on 23 January 2026 due to fluctuations from the grid.
The diesel generators for both facilities were manually switched back to standby mode within a few minutes, which again highlighted the impact of military action on power systems and safety systems, Grossi said.
Background:
- Russia has carried out its second large-scale attack on Ukraine's energy system since the beginning of the year, with energy facilities in eight oblasts coming under missile and drone strikes.
- Ukraine's nuclear power plants were forced to reduce their generation capacity as a result of Russia's large-scale attack.
- Grossi said earlier that extensive repairs are needed to improve the reliability of power supply to Ukrainian nuclear power plants and to strengthen their resilience to further grid events.
- On 31 January, a major breakdown in Ukraine's power system caused electricity to be cut off across large parts of the country.
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