Russian secrets to the ZPP. Where did the IAEA representatives not get, and in what condition the station is a nuclear safety expert

The Russians have been controlling the station for a long time, they periodically fire some parts of it, hide in the middle of military equipment, and even threatened to undermine everything. In the world, these actions of the occupiers are perceived as a nuclear blackmail in its most dangerous version. Video day, the mission's visit was important not only for Ukraine, but also for the whole of Europe.

But the IAEA inspectors were at the station for only a few hours, moved only under the control of the Russian military and could not see some important for the safety of the NPP. Nine of the fourteen representatives of the mission left this object immediately and the rest unload their equipment brought. Director of the Agency Rafael Grosi announced the establishment of a permanent presence of his employees at the ZPP.

At the same time, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the IAEA to force the Russian Federation to carry out full militarization of the station. What can you now expect from the occupiers and the IAEA, and does the step of the Safety at the ZPP mean? Dmitry Humeniuk, an expert of the State Scientific and Technical Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety, answered these and other questions.

- Did the IAMA experts fulfill the mission at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZPP)? - The IAEA did not publish their plans. Based on the main goal of the organization - control over the non -proliferation of nuclear materials - I think it was important for them to check the condition of nuclear objects and reactor installations with their endurance pools and the warehousing storage of nuclear fuel.

Additionally - the state of physical protection, which is already impaired due to the stay there. Another mission could be interested in the condition of diesel generators and whether they have reserves. This is very important, because in the case of disconnection of power units [which has happened several times at the station], they are not switched off according to the principle of the kettle: the reaction of the disintegration of the nucleus continues.

And diesel generators are directly involved in cooling. For constant work, they need to have a fuel supply. However, the invaders could simply steal this diesel. If the system overheats, the Fukushima scenario [Japanese nuclear station, which has been accident in 2011 with radiation allocation] will take place. IAEA representatives should clearly determine how much diesel is available at the station. Also, the mission should check whether there are spare parts for repair of security systems.

And it is important to make sure how the crisis center works at the station. Experts were not allowed there. - What is this crisis center? - It is a hopper protected from radiation and exposure to the environment of the room. In the event of an accident there is a group of engineers to implement the emergency plan. This center has a system of monitoring power units. This is a place where, mostly, employees [state Russian operator of NPPs] are hidden by Rossa and Russian military.

- Did the mission check everything? - They had three hours. They moved the station not on their own - they were driven by the Russians. It was a simplified version of the mission. The IAEA experts only showed what they could be seen. - There is a video where the CEO Raphael Grosey passed past military equipment in the machine hall. What is the threat of its stay on the object? - The machine hall is not a place for cars.

Although this hall is not near the reactor itself, there are many equipment for its safe operation. Damage there can lead to a accident with subsequent radioactive release into the air. It is a technical room with a turbine, turbogenerator and steam lines. If suddenly the body of Russian equipment will break the ammunition and damage the steam lines, it will reduce the cooling of the active area of ​​the reactor. The warming of which will melt the active part, as on Fukushima.

Another option is a fire: oil can be done in transformers. It will be difficult to repay, which can also lead to an accident. - Recently, the Russian projectile punched the roof of one of the buildings at the ZPP where nuclear waste is stored. Does it somehow threaten radiation leakage outside? - Radioactive waste is in containers: if you do not damage them, there will be no leakage. The building itself is not a sealed room. The station has a radiation control system.

At present, this system does not fix the increase in the radiation background at the station. - If suddenly the release of radiation happens, will the public be reported? - No doubt. The Crisis Center will be preserved, which will regularly inform Ukrainians and analyze the situation. - Will IAIA representatives remain at the station for a long time? - Grosey noted that he would like to make the mission constant, but it is difficult to say what will happen next.

- Will we see a detailed mission report on the visit to the ZPP? - This is the first time when IAEA checks the nuclear power plant in the occupied territories. There is no fixed practice on how to do in such cases. I anticipate that the IAEA will publish a statement on the basis of the visit, however, without technical details.

- In what technical condition is the ZPP currently located, does the station work extremely? - The extraordinary mode of operation of the station began on March 4, when it was captured by the invaders. This is already a violation of radiation safety requirements. Moreover, the psychological and physical pressure exerted on the staff leads to an increase in the risk of a serious accident.

Last week, when the platform [territory of NPPs] took place when it was removed from the power system of Ukraine - the fifth and sixth units were stopped [September 2, the fifth power unit was connected to the grid]. Then there was the highest probability of the accident. Fortunately, all systems worked in full -time mode. The units were healed from the power system of Ukraine. Now the NPP power switching off again when one of the power units was turned off again.

Now there is only one block that feeds the station and gives a certain amount of energy to the power system of Ukraine. - What can be the final goal of the occupiers on the ZPP? It seems that they still plan to carry out a controlled accident with a limited amount of radiation? - It is difficult to understand what happens to these persons in the heads. Those who want to use the platform as a nuclear shield - with impunity by firing all the territories they can reach.

Unfortunately, they do successfully. They also want to provoke the armed forces in response to use and blame Ukraine. Control of the station is also a continuation of nuclear blackmail of Ukraine and the world after a nuclear -button bluff has not worked. There is another goal, it seems that they are trying to connect the Zaporozhye NPP to the Russian power grid. - It is possible? - Theoretically, if you continue the transmission line from the occupied Crimea to the station.