KURSK 27 August 2024 (TDI): Rafael Grossi, head of the UN nuclear agency, is scheduled to visit Russia’s Kursk nuclear power plant on Tuesday. This visit comes amid claims from Moscow that the facility has been repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian forces, who are reportedly operating just 40 km (25 miles) away after a significant incursion into Russian territory.
The ongoing Ukraine conflict, which began in February 2022 with Russia’s invasion, has consistently threatened nuclear safety. Both Moscow and Kyiv have accused each other of drone and artillery attacks on the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine. However, recent developments, including the August 6 Ukrainian incursion into Russia, have shifted attention to the Kursk plant—a major Soviet-era nuclear facility.
President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine of attempting to attack the Kursk plant, which houses four Soviet RBMK-1000 reactors—of the same design as those involved in the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. Ukraine has not yet responded to these allegations.
Grossi, who has repeatedly warned of the risks associated with attacks on nuclear facilities, announced an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) mission to Kursk to assess the situation. “The safety and security of nuclear facilities must, under no circumstances, be endangered,” Grossi emphasized. He stated that visiting the site was crucial for the IAEA to accurately evaluate the plant’s security and verify the information being received.
The Kursk nuclear power station, located near the town of Kurchatov, is situated just 40 km from recent clashes.
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The plant’s four reactors include two that are currently operational—Reactor No. 3 and Reactor No. 4. Reactor No. 4 was disconnected from the grid on August 25 for cooling repairs expected to last 59 days. Construction of Kursk-2, featuring new VVER-510 reactors, began in 2018 but these reactors are not yet operational.
On August 22, the IAEA reported that Russia had found drone debris about 100 meters (330 feet) from the plant’s spent fuel storage facility. Russian monitoring stations have reported that radiation levels in the area remain normal.
