Impact of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine on nuclear power plants

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Ukraine is home to four nuclear power plants, as well as the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, site of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.[1] As of 11 March, both Chernobyl and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant had seen battles during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. The invasion has prompted significant discussion about the status of the power plants, including fears of potential disasters,[2] and has also prompted debates about nuclear energy programmes in other European countries.[3]

Battles[edit]

The Battle of Chernobyl took place on 24 February, the first day of the invasion, as part of the Kyiv offensive. Russian forces captured the exclusion zone the same day.[4]

The Siege of Enerhodar began on 28 February, as Russian forces advanced during the Southern Ukraine offensive. The Russian assault on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant began on 3 March, capturing the power plant by the next day.[5] On 6 March, the IAEA released a statement expressing concern over potential Russian military interference in the operations of the power plant and over cuts to mobile and internet networks that the plant used for communications.[6]

Safety concerns[edit]

Since the occupation of Chernobyl and the Zaporizhzhia power plant, a number of safety concerns have been raised by the IAEA and the Ukrainian government, including over failure to give staff proper rest and lack of regular maintenance work being carried out.[7][8][9][10] Pharmacies in several European countries reported selling out of iodine pills in the first two weeks following the invasion.[11] However, several European nuclear safety authorities have to date concluded that there is no immediate danger of a significant radioactive disaster occurring.[12][13][14]

On 6 March, French President Emmanuel Macron held a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin in which he urged Putin to "ensure the safety of these plants and that they are excluded from the conflict." Following the call, the Kremlin released a statement saying that it was willing to engage in negotiations with the IAEA and the Ukrainian government over ensuring that safety.[15]

Debates over nuclear power in Europe[edit]

The invasion of Ukraine has prompted increase discussion about the future of nuclear power in Europe, with a number of commentators arguing in favour of increasing nuclear power generation in order to decrease dependence on natural gas imported from Russia.[16][17][18][19]

Germany in particular has seen debates over nuclear power phase-out, which has overseen the shutdown of most of the nuclear power plants in the country since 2011, with the remaining three due to be shut down as well.[20][21][22] On 28 February, German economics minister stated that the German government would consider suspending the phase-out of remaining nuclear power plants in the country.[23] However, on 9 March, the German released a statement rejecting calls to suspend the phase-out of nuclear power[24] Belgium has also seen debates about extending the life span of its existing nuclear reactors.[25]

George Monbiot wrote in The Guardian that Europe "collectively receives 41% of its gas imports and 27% of its oil imports from Russia," arguing that Europe "reduced ourselves to craven dependency on that despotic government, through a dismal failure to wean ourselves off fossil fuels."[26]

Some commentators have also raised issues of Russian exports of nuclear energy technology. In Finland, the Hanhikivi Nuclear Power Plant project was cancelled due to the invasion.[27][28] Hartmut Winkler of the University of Johannesburg has stated that Russian state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom faced significant loss of international business due to the invasion, stating that the "era of Russian foreign nuclear builds is therefore soon likely to be over."[29]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Why Ukraine's nuclear power is so crucial to Russia's invasion following Zaporizhzhia attack". inews.co.uk. March 4, 2022.
  2. ^ "Ukraine's nuclear nightmare is only part of the war's environmental horrors". POLITICO. March 4, 2022.
  3. ^ "How Putin made the Green Deal great again". POLITICO. March 8, 2022.
  4. ^ "Chernobyl nuclear plant targeted as Russia invades Ukraine". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 24 February 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  5. ^ Tim Stelloh (3 March 2022). "Nuclear plant on fire in Ukraine after Russia attacks facility". NBC. Archived from the original on 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  6. ^ "Russian forces interfering at Ukraine nuclear plant: IAEA". Al-Jazeera. 6 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  7. ^ "Ukraine warns of danger to Chernobyl but IAEA 'sees no critical impact on safety'". POLITICO. March 9, 2022.
  8. ^ "Update 15 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine". www.iaea.org. March 8, 2022.
  9. ^ "How safe are Ukraine's nuclear power plants amid Russian attacks?". the Guardian. March 4, 2022.
  10. ^ Meshkati, Najmedin. "Russian troops fought for control of a nuclear power plant in Ukraine – a safety expert explains how warfare and nuclear power are a volatile combination". The Conversation.
  11. ^ "Price of anti-radiation pills spikes 100% as Putin rattles saber". www.cbsnews.com.
  12. ^ "The politics behind Ukraine's alarming nuclear warnings". POLITICO. March 11, 2022.
  13. ^ "Ukraine: As war rages what are the risks at the Chernobyl nuclear plant? | DW | 09.03.2022". DW.COM.
  14. ^ "Russia's invasion of Ukraine highlights vulnerability of nuclear power plants". PBS NewsHour. March 9, 2022.
  15. ^ "Macron urges securing nuclear plants in call with Putin". POLITICO. March 6, 2022.
  16. ^ "Ukraine war prompts European reappraisal of its energy supplies". the Guardian. March 4, 2022.
  17. ^ "Will Russia's invasion of Ukraine revive the debate about nuclear weapons and nuclear energy?". rabble.ca.
  18. ^ Tan, Huileng. "Elon Musk says Europe should restart its dormant nuclear power stations amid fears the Russian invasion of Ukraine will trigger a gas-supply shortage". Business Insider.
  19. ^ Montgomery, Scott L. "War in Ukraine is changing energy geopolitics". The Conversation.
  20. ^ Steitz, Christoph; Wacket, Markus (February 28, 2022). "Explainer: Could Germany keep its nuclear plants running?" – via www.reuters.com.
  21. ^ Mathis, Will; Morison, Rachel (March 1, 2022) [February 28, 2022]. "Delaying Germany's Nuclear Phaseout Is Easier Said Than Done". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
  22. ^ "How Putin's Invasion of Ukraine Upended Germany". The New Yorker. March 11, 2022.
  23. ^ Berlin, David Crossland. "Ukraine crisis pushes Germany to rethink nuclear phase-out" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
  24. ^ "Germany can't recommend nuclear power life-span extension". euronews. March 9, 2022.
  25. ^ Strauss, Marine (March 7, 2022). "Belgian Greens make U-turn to consider nuclear plants extension" – via www.reuters.com.
  26. ^ "It's not too late to free ourselves from this idiotic addiction to Russian gas | George Monbiot". the Guardian. March 9, 2022.
  27. ^ "Fennovoimas kärnkraftsprojekt avbryts – delägaren Åbo Energi förlorar 20 miljoner euro". Svenska Yle. 2022-03-03. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
  28. ^ "Finnish government unsure about nuclear plant with Russia, minister says". February 24, 2022 – via www.reuters.com.
  29. ^ Winkler, Hartmut. "Russia's nuclear power exports: will they stand the strain of the war in Ukraine?". The Conversation.
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