In a recent development, environmental organization Greenpeace has accused Russia of posing a grave threat to Ukraine and the West by considering the restart of reactors at the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station. The pressure group's warning follows a meeting between the head of the International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, and Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss nuclear safety and the plant's future amidst the ongoing conflict.

Russian officials have suggested the possibility of restarting the nuclear power plant, which Greenpeace argues would create an unprecedented risk. Shaun Burnie, a nuclear specialist with Greenpeace Germany, emphasized that no nuclear regulations worldwide permit the operation of a nuclear plant in an active war zone.

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, located on the banks of the Dnipro River in central Ukraine, has been in the line of fire since its capture by Russian forces in March 2022. Initially, Russia considered integrating the reactors into its energy grid but abandoned the idea. However, recent statements from officials indicate a renewed attempt to restart nuclear energy generation later this year.

Yuriy Chernichuk, the Russian-appointed director of the Zaporizhzhia power plant, expressed determination in a December staff newsletter, stating that the plant intends to operate at full capacity in the upcoming anniversary year.

While Grossi, the IAEA director, has sought to understand Russia's intentions, he cautioned against restarting energy generation at the plant during his meeting with Putin. Grossi pointed out that the plant is situated in an active combat zone and has been in shutdown for a prolonged period, necessitating various safety assessments from the Russian occupiers.

The IAEA director general did not outrightly discourage energy generation restart but stressed the importance of safety assessments. Putin, in his opening remarks, highlighted the significance of ensuring "nuclear energy safety and compliance with safety standards throughout the world."

Reports of a tense meeting between Grossi and Russian officials have emerged, although an IAEA spokesperson denied the claim. Grossi also met with Alexey Likhachev, the director-general of Rosatom, the Russian state-owned energy company currently operating the Zaporizhzhia plant.

Greenpeace criticized Grossi for what they perceived as complacency and called for the complete rejection of restarting any of the plant's reactors. The organization raised concerns about the compromised safety margin and the availability of sufficient cooling water, especially after the nearby Nova Kakhovka dam explosion in June, which drastically reduced the flow of the Dnipro River.

Currently, five of the plant's six nuclear reactors are in a cold shutdown, operating below boiling point. The remaining reactor is in hot shutdown, producing steam and heat required for the site. Although IAEA inspectors are present on-site, there have been complaints about restrictions imposed by Russia on their access.

The fragile situation at the Zaporizhzhia plant is further exacerbated by a limited power supply, with only two out of the original ten prewar power lines remaining to support the reactor cooling system. Over the past 18 months, emergency backup generators had to be utilized on multiple occasions when both power lines failed, preventing the reactors from overheating.

The possibility of restarting nuclear energy generation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station remains a subject of concern for Greenpeace and international observers. As tensions persist in the region, ensuring the safety and security of the plant and its reactors is of utmost importance to avoid potential catastrophic consequences.