UN Watchdog Warns of ‘Grave Danger’ at Ukrainian Nuclear Power Plant

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant outside the Russian-controlled city of Enerhodar in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, on Aug. 22, 2022. Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters

The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog agency urged Russia and Ukraine to set up a “security protection zone” near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant as fears have escalated that nearby fighting could trigger a disaster not seen since the 1986 Chernobyl meltdown.

“We are playing with fire, and something very, very catastrophic could take place,” Rafael Grossi, who leads the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told the U.N. Security Council on Sept. 6.