Ukraine's Nuclear Power Plants: Current Status and Safety Concerns in War

Ukraine is home to 15 operable nuclear reactors located at four plants, collectively generating approximately half of the country's electricity. These reactors, predominantly of the Russian-designed VVER type, include a mix of V-312, V-320, and larger 1000 MWe units. The safety of these plants in the context of conflict has raised significant concerns, particularly as both Russia and Ukraine control strategic nuclear facilities.

Current Situation of Nuclear Plants

As the conflict intensifies, Russian forces now control the defunct Chernobyl nuclear facility and have taken control of Europe's largest nuclear power plant, the Zaporizhzhia NPP. The latter is particularly crucial, with Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba warning that if the Zaporizhzhia NPP is attacked and damaged, it could result in an even more catastrophic disaster comparable to the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster, but potentially ten times worse.

Russian officials, however, claim that the situation at Zaporizhzhia NPP is controlled and that the plant has not experienced any breaches. In a recent phone call with French Foreign Minister Emmanuel Macron, President Vladimir Putin accused Ukrainian radicals of creating a 'provocation' at the Zaporizhzhia plant, involving a sabotage group. This suggests that both sides are engaging in a rhetorical battle over the control and safety of the nuclear facilities.

Strategic Importance and Potential Outcomes

The constant attacks on Ukraine's nuclear power plants are part of a broader strategy by Russia to exert pressure on NATO countries near its border. These power plants supply electricity to several neighboring countries that were once part of the Warsaw Pact, including Poland, Romania, Hungary, and Slovakia. If Russia gains control of all these nuclear plants, these former Warsaw Pact countries may become more geographically and politically aligned with Russia.

Russia has also demonstrated a willingness to use extreme threats to achieve its objectives. By raising the specter of a nuclear war with NATO and suggesting that Ukraine might use a 'dirty' nuclear bomb, Russia is attempting to deter international intervention and further isolate Ukraine.

The Plants in Detail

The Zaporizhzhia NPP, located in southern Ukraine near the city of Enerhodar, is a critical site for energy production. It consists of six operational VVER-1000 reactors, with a total capacity of 6000 MWe. The rolling plains around the plant are under Russian control, which has raised serious safety concerns about the integrity of the nuclear infrastructure. The Chernobyl site, while defunct, remains a symbolic and real danger due to its proximity to the site of the 1986 accident.

Overall, the control and safety of Ukraine's nuclear power plants remain precarious in the current conflict. As Russia and Ukraine continue their battle for control, the potential for catastrophic damage to these facilities looms large, posing significant risks not only to Ukraine but to the wider European and international community.