The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) revealed that mines have been replanted around the largest nuclear power station in Europe, which has been under Moscow's control since March 2022. The Vienna-based agency stated, "Mines have been replanted along the perimeter of the Zaporizhzhia station." It added that the mines were removed in November before being replanted, which contradicts the safety requirements set by the agency. The IAEA noted that the mines are now located in a restricted area for the staff operating the station, between the facility's inner and outer fences. The agency complained that it still cannot access several parts of the station, while Moscow attributed this issue earlier this month to security reasons.
Since the beginning of June, Ukrainian forces have attempted to advance towards Zaporizhzhia, southern Donetsk, and Artemovsk, deploying NATO-trained combat units equipped with Western military hardware.
Ongoing tensions are noted, as the largest and most important station in Europe has repeatedly suffered from power outages due to ongoing fighting, with the Russian military continuously accusing Ukraine of threatening the facility. Tensions between Moscow and Kyiv regarding this issue are recurring, with the IAEA playing a mediating role. The Zaporizhzhia station is located next to a large water reservoir, which has seen a drop in water levels since a dam on the Dnieper River was destroyed earlier last year, causing widespread flooding in southern Ukraine and resulting in over 100 deaths.
