The Sixth Facilitation of Local Ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine by the International Atomic Energy Agency
On June 5, Xinhua News Agency reported from Vienna (Reporter Meng Fanyu) that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced on social media that a partial ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine, mediated by the agency, took effect on the same day near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. This temporary ceasefire aims to repair important transmission lines of the nuclear power plant and prevent nuclear accidents.
The post stated that under the supervision of IAEA experts, technical personnel from Russia and Ukraine will begin repairing a 750-kilovolt transmission line in the coming days. This line has been disconnected for more than two months, causing the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to rely entirely on a 330-kilovolt transmission line to provide cooling power for its six offline reactors. In recent weeks, this transmission line has also been disconnected multiple times, forcing the nuclear power plant to activate emergency diesel generators.
The IAEA stated that this is the sixth time that the agency's Director General Grossi has facilitated a partial temporary ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. During several weeks of sensitive and complex negotiations, constructive contacts were made with the IAEA, and both sides agreed to ceasefire for nuclear safety.
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is one of the largest nuclear power plants in Europe. After the escalation of the Ukraine crisis in February 2022, Russian forces took control of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Since then, the plant has been subjected to multiple shelling and drone attacks, raising concerns in the international community about its safety.
A temporary ceasefire agreement was reached on June 5, 2023, facilitated by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to repair a 750 kV power line at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Russian and Ukrainian technical personnel will begin repairs under IAEA supervision, as the plant has been relying on a 330 kV line for cooling its reactors. This marks the sixth ceasefire facilitated by the IAEA in this region since the onset of the conflict.
- A temporary ceasefire agreement was reached on June 5, 2023.
- The ceasefire aims to repair a 750 kV power line at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
- The plant has been relying on a 330 kV power line for cooling its reactors due to previous outages.
- The IAEA has facilitated multiple ceasefires in this area before.
- The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is the largest in Europe and has been under Russian control since February 2022.