Significant Smoke Pollution Observed Near Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant

Substantial smoke pollution was detected in the vicinity of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Energodar, with the cause yet to be determined. The largest nuclear power facility in Europe, which has been under Russian control since March 2022, is once again in the spotlight due to concerns regarding nuclear safety. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has observers at the site, has not reported any violations of the radiation levels.

The Zaporizhzhya NPP, situated along the banks of the Kakhovka Reservoir, comprises six power units equipped with VVER-1000 reactors, each capable of producing 950 MW. In August 2024, a fire in cooling tower No. 1 resulted in significant smoke but did not compromise nuclear safety. At that time, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi emphasized that such incidents pose risks even in the absence of radiation emissions. Preliminary assessments suggest that the current smoke is also unrelated to the power units, which are in a state of cold shutdown, though the precise cause remains unknown.