The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) issued a statement on the evening of September 30 that it is in contact with both Russia and Ukraine to facilitate the recovery of off-site power supply to the Zaporozhye Thermal Nuclear Power Plant as soon as possible.

Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said in a statement that this is the longest time that the nuclear power plant has lost external power supply since the Russia-Ukraine conflict. At present, nuclear power plants are relying on emergency diesel generators as the "last line of defense" to maintain power supply. There is no "direct danger" for the time being, but as far as nuclear safety is concerned, this is unsustainable. "Neither Russia nor Ukraine will benefit from the nuclear accident."

The statement said that Grossi recently met with Russian and Ukrainian leaders and senior officials to discuss the nuclear safety and security situation of Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plants, with a view to re-connecting the power supply of nuclear power plants to the power grid as soon as possible.

The statement said that the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant has informed the International Atomic Energy Agency team that the current nuclear power plant fuel reserve can still be used for backup generators to operate for more than 10 days. According to measurements by the nuclear power plant and the International Atomic Energy Agency team, in the past week, radiation on and off site has not exceeded normal levels.

The Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant is one of the largest nuclear power plants in Europe. After the full escalation of the Ukraine crisis in February 2022, the Russian side took control of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant. Since then, the nuclear power plant has been repeatedly bombarded or attacked by drones, raising international concerns about its safety. Since September 23, the nuclear power plant has been operating for several days in a row with reserve diesel generators.