The UN’s nuclear watchdog issued a cautionary statement following Ukraine’s report of a fire at the Dniprovska 750-kilovolt electrical substation today due to “military activity.”

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant had been partially disconnected from its external power sources as a precautionary measure at the request of the grid operator in response to the incident.

Rafael Mariano Grossi, the Director General of the IAEA, expressed serious concerns, emphasizing the critical role that substations play in ensuring nuclear safety.

According to the IAEA, Ukraine reported that a fire erupted at the Dniprovska 750 kilovolt electrical substation today as a result of military actions. Consequently, the South Ukraine nuclear power plant was partially disconnected by the grid operator. Firefighting teams are currently on site working to contain the fire.

In a related development, Russia’s nuclear energy chief raised alarms about the deteriorating safety conditions at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine. The plant has reportedly faced attacks from Ukrainian Armed Forces, including a recent incident where a drone strike allegedly resulted in a casualty.

The Zaporizhzhia region, including the nuclear plant, has been subject to ongoing military actions, with recent attacks causing casualties and escalating safety concerns. Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Russia’s Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, warned that the situation at the plant is nearing a critical “point of no return,” urging increased efforts across Europe to de-escalate tensions in the area to prevent potential widespread risks associated with the plant’s large quantity of nuclear fuel.