Ukraine’s Rivne nuclear plant forced to lower power output over fear of air attack: IAEA chief

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - The director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Friday that Ukraine’s Rivne Nuclear Power Plant had to temporarily reduce its power output amid ongoing heightened military activity.

The ongoing military activity near all of Ukraine’s nuclear power plant sites in recent days, forced the Rivne power plant to lower its power output early on Wednesday morning, Rafael Grossi said in a statement.

The decision came upon the request of the grid operator, as a precautionary step due to an air attack, said Grossi, adding that later on Wednesday the affected unit returned to nominal full capacity.

The director general said that IAEA staff stationed at Ukraine's operating nuclear power plants – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine NPPs – as well as the Zaporizhzhia and the Chornobyl site reported significant military activity in recent days.

"These ongoing threats continue to jeopardize the nuclear safety and security of nuclear power plants," Grossi said.

He further noted that the IAEA's presence is crucial to monitoring and reporting on such activities.

"No one stands to gain from attacks on nuclear facilities, and indifference to these dangers is not an option," the director general added.