KURCHATOV, Russia – Potential Risk of Nuclear Accident at Russian Plant Amid Conflict, UN Agency Chief Warns
The head of the U.N.’s nuclear agency raised concerns on Tuesday about the possibility of a serious accident at a Russian nuclear plant due to the ongoing conflict between Russian and Ukrainian forces in the region.
Rafael Grossi, director general at the International Atomic Energy Agency, issued the warning after inspecting the plant in Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces crossed the border three weeks ago, triggering clashes with Russian troops.
“The danger of a nuclear accident is looming in this area,” Grossi told reporters.
He noted that while the plant is still operational, the risk of a potential incident has heightened due to the conflict in the vicinity.
President Vladimir Putin recently accused Ukraine of attempting to target the Kursk plant, which houses four Soviet graphite-moderated RBMK-1000 reactors – the same model as the one at the Chornobyl nuclear plant, known for the catastrophic disaster in 1986.
Grossi highlighted the vulnerability of the RBMK-type facility, lacking the containment dome found in modern nuclear plants, making it susceptible to external threats like artillery impact or drone attacks.
Although Grossi emphasized that comparing Kursk to Chornobyl would be an overstatement, he underscored the seriousness of the situation, stressing the importance of safeguarding nuclear facilities from any form of attack.
The purpose of Grossi’s visit was to bring global attention to the issue and emphasize the imperative nature of protecting nuclear power plants from potential threats.
**Analysis:**
The article discusses the heightened risk of a nuclear accident at a Russian plant in the Kursk region due to the conflict between Russian and Ukrainian forces. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, raised concerns about the vulnerability of the plant, which houses reactors similar to those at the Chornobyl nuclear plant. The lack of a containment dome at the facility makes it more susceptible to external threats, posing a significant danger in case of an impact. The article emphasizes the importance of safeguarding nuclear plants and highlights the potential consequences of an attack on such facilities.