drone attacks on Energodar increase non-technological risks for Zaporizhia NPP – Kommersant

The technological safety of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant is absolute, but due to massive attacks on city infrastructure, risks of a non-technological nature arise, the head of Rosatom, Alexey Likhachev, told reporters, commenting on the attack of Ukrainian drones on Energodar that took place the day before.

“From a technological point of view, the safety of the Zaporizhzhya NPP is absolute: the units are shut down – five in cold, one in hot, there is the required number of underground wells to make up for any water shortage. In this state, we fully understand how to reduce all technological risks to zero, but given the ongoing pressure, including attacks on city infrastructure, of course, non-technological risks arise, and this causes deep concern,” said Mr. Likhachev.

The drone strike on Energodar, a satellite town of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, occurred on Monday, September 11, at about 18.00. According to the top manager, the city was attacked by six drones, two of which were destroyed on arrival. The city park, the Sovremennik cultural center and the United Russia office came under attack. He connected the attack “with the proactive voting of Energodar residents in the elections.”

“Unfortunately, the demonstrative actions of the Kyiv authorities, aimed at further intimidating city residents and station workers, do not stop,” he commented.

The number of employees at Zaporizhzhya NPP has now been reduced for safety reasons. “One of the basic safety principles related to the normal functioning of the satellite city continues to be violated, and this means pressure on the station staff,” said Alexey Likhachev.

Tatiana Dyatel, Vladivostok