EXPLAINED | Ukraine’s 4 Nuclear Plants, 15 Reactors, And The Threats They Face During Russian Invasion

Ukraine is heavily dependent on nuclear energy. In 2020, the 4 plants generated 13,107 GWe power, the third largest in Europe after Russia and France.

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine | Photo: Getty

New Delhi: Russian forces Friday seized the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, the largest in Europe, after heaving shelling that even led to a fire triggering fears of radiation leaks.

Ukraine operates 15 nuclear reactors that generate around 54 per cent of the country's electricity needs, news agency Reuters reported.

The former USSR constituent is heavily dependent on nuclear energy, and most of its 15 reactors were originally developed during the Soviet Union, according to the World Nuclear Association, which represents the industry.

Here is a look at Ukraine's nuclear power sector and the threats they face due to the conflict with Russia. 

How Many Nuclear Plants Are There In Ukraine?

Ukraine has four nuclear plants, and all 15 “water-water energy reactors”, or VVER, are located in these plants. VVERs are water cooled and water moderated. 

As many as 12 of the reactors were developed in the 1980s, while one came up in 1995 and the last two in 2004.

State-owned Energoatom operates all the plants.

How Much Power Ukraine’s Nuclear Plants Generate?

The plants generated 13,107 gigawatt electrical (GWe) nuclear generated power in 2020, the third largest in Europe after Russia (27,653 GWe) and France (61,370 GWe).

Where Are The Nuclear Plants Located In Ukraine?

The four plants are the Rivne plant in northwest Ukraine near the Belarus border, the Khmelnytskyi plant located around 180 km (110 miles) southeast of the Rivne site, the South Ukraine plant near Odessa, and the Zaporizhzhia plant. While the Rivne plant has four reactors, two are in the Khmelnytskyi plant, the South Ukraine plant has three reactors, and the rest of the six are operated in the Zaporizhzhia plant.

Is Chernobyl Still Active?

The Chernobyl nuclear plant, located around 108 km north of the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, had four reactors, and one of them exploded in 1986, spreading radiation across Europe. It is now defunct, but the site is still considered radioactive. Russian forces seized the area on February 24, the first day of the invasion. A protective dome covers the destroyed reactor. 

Are All The Nuclear Plants Safe? 

The shelling by Russian forces at the Zaporizhzhia plant Friday, which set off a huge fire, triggered massive fears of radiation leaks. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has, however, said the plant did not suffer damage, and that only one reactor was currently working, at around 60 per cent of its capacity. 

“But we cannot rely on this good fortune to continue. It is high time to stop an armed conflict from putting nuclear facilities at severe risk, potentially endangering the safety of people and the environment in Ukraine and beyond. Words must mean something - it is time for action,” IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said in a statement.

The Russian forces seized the Zaporizhzhia plant overnight after the flames were doused. 

The other plants do not appear to be under any immediate threat, according to the Reuters report quoted above.

The IAEA has said the plants are robust, but the staff working there who are stressed by the fighting could make mistakes. The wellbeing of nuclear workers is a humanitarian issue, Grossi was quoted as saying Friday.