Oleksandr Kharchenko, Director of the Energy Research Center, said this in comments to Ukrinform.

“Unfortunately, the situation at the Zaporizhzhia plant is extremely serious. Ammunition is being stored there, military personnel are stationed on site, and there is a complete breach of international nuclear safety rules,” Kharchenko said.

“At present I see no real options for either Ukraine or our partners to affect what is happening there. The situation is indeed very difficult, it is critical,” Kharchenko noted.

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Zaporizhzhiaregion; most customers without

The expert also pointed to recurring problems with external power supply. The plant periodically loses grid connection and is forced to switch to diesel generators.

At the same time, Kharchenko stressed that an immediate nuclear threat is not the main risk, since the reactors are shut down and remain in cold state.

“I cannot say there is a direct nuclear danger, because the reactors are shut down and in cold condition, making serious incidents unlikely,” he said.

However, the prolonged lack of proper servicing and necessary technological procedures creates another serious problem — the plant may lose the ability to be fully restored.

“Everything points to the fact that ZNPP is rapidly losing its capacity to be recovered,” Kharchenko emphasized.

He added that the situation is unique and poorly studied, since there is no complete information on the condition of reactor equipment. “No one knows what is happening inside reactors that are not being serviced, maintained or refueled,” he said.

Kharchenko underlined that the future of the plant remains uncertain. “The situation is truly complicated and unpredictable, and it is impossible today to say what fate awaits this facility,” he concluded.

As earlier reported by Ukrinform, the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP twice lost external power supply on August 8.