UN nuclear watchdog discusses Ukraine nuclear safety risks

Russian attacks on Ukraine’s electrical substations could cut power to nuclear plants, increasing risks of meltdown.Published On 30 Jan 2026The United Nations nuclear watchdog has held a special session on Ukraine amid growing fears that Russian attacks on its energy facilities could trigger a nuclear accident.Rafael Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said at the start of Friday’s extraordinary board meeting in Vienna that the war in Ukraine posed “the world’s biggest threat to nuclear safety”.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Russia to pause bombing Kyiv during extreme winter conditions, says Trumplist 2 of 3Zelenskyy seeks 50,000 Russian ‘losses’ a month to win the Ukraine warlist 3 of 3Ukrainian President Zelenskyy invites Putin to Kyiv for talksend of listThe meeting was held as an IAEA expert mission conducted a weeks-long inspection of 10 electrical substations that Grossi described as “crucial to nuclear safety”.Although nuclear power plants generate power themselves, they rely on an uninterrupted supply of external power from electrical substations to maintain reactor cooling.Ukraine has four nuclear power plants, three of them under Kyiv’s control, with the fourth and biggest in Zaporizhzhia occupied by Russian forces since the early days of their full-scale invasion in 2022.Moscow and Kyiv have repeatedly accused each other of risking a nuclear catastrophe by attacking the Zaporizhzhia site.The plant’s six reactors have been shut down since the occupation, but the site still needs electricity to maintain its cooling and security systems.Earlier this month, Russia and Ukraine paused local hostilities to allow repairs on the last remaining backup power line supplying the plant, which was damaged by military activity in January.Ukraine is also home to the former Chornobyl plant, the site of the world’s worst nuclear accident in 1986. The site’s protective shield containing radioactive material was damaged last year in a drone strike allegedly carried out by Russia.Status of energy ceasefire unclearThe four-hour IAEA meeting, which aimed to increase pressure on Russia, was called at the request of the Netherlands, with the support of at least 11 other countries.