UN nuclear watchdog discusses Ukraine nuclear safety risks

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by Al Jazeera StaffJanuary 31, 2026 at 12:02 AM

AI Summary

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The UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, held a special session in Vienna on January 30, 2026, to address growing concerns about nuclear safety risks in Ukraine due to Russian attacks on energy infrastructure. IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi warned that the war poses the world's biggest threat to nuclear safety, as Ukrainian nuclear plants rely on external power from substations for reactor cooling, even when shut down. The meeting followed an IAEA inspection of 10 crucial electrical substations. While Ukraine has four nuclear plants, the Zaporizhzhia plant, occupied by Russian forces, is of particular concern as it requires constant power for cooling and security. The meeting, requested by the Netherlands and supported by other countries, aimed to increase pressure on Russia to avoid actions that could lead to a nuclear accident.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Vienna 40% Netherlands 40% Volodymyr Zelenskyy 50% Chornobyl 60% Zaporizhzhia ×270% Kyiv ×370% Rafael Grossi ×280% International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) ×390% Russia ×7100% Ukraine ×9100%

Keywords

nuclear safety 100% ukraine 90% russian attacks 80% power plants 70% electrical substations 70% reactor cooling 60% iaea 60% nuclear accident 50% zaporizhzhia 50% chornobyl 40%