Ukraine's fight for energy security is a battle of epic proportions, with nuclear power at its core. In the control room of the Khmelnytsky nuclear plant, a handful of technicians vigilantly monitor a sea of screens, their actions critical to Ukraine's energy grid and war efforts.
The country faces an unprecedented energy crisis due to relentless Russian attacks on its infrastructure. At least 60% of Ukraine's electricity relies on the mighty turbine halls at Khmelnytsky and two other nuclear plants.
Pavlo Kovtonyuk, head of Energoatom, Ukraine's National Nuclear Energy Company, guides us through this complex situation. He emphasizes the real and present danger of Russian attacks on these installations, which are vital for the safe and reliable operation of the nuclear power plants.
"Russia is targeting substations that connect nuclear power plants to the grid, aiming to shut down nuclear energy," Kovtonyuk explains. "This is nuclear terrorism, as the connection ensures the plants' safety and reliability."
Nuclear power stations are highly secure and sensitive, with restricted access to ensure their safety. The BBC gained rare access to the plant to witness Ukraine's resilience in the face of Russia's relentless attacks.
Ukraine accuses Russia of deliberately targeting its critical energy infrastructure with nightly missile and drone attacks. President Volodymyr Zelensky claims Moscow is exploiting the harsh winter, leaving thousands without power, heating, or running water.
Most conventional power plants have been hit or damaged by Russian airstrikes, making nuclear power plants like Khmelnytsky crucial for meeting the country's energy needs.
However, Ukraine's largest power plant, located on the southern stretch of the Dnipro River near Zaporizhzhia, has been under Russian control since the war's outset. It's not only the largest in Ukraine but also Europe's largest nuclear power station, capable of supplying a country the size of Portugal. Yet, Zaporizhzhia is currently dormant, with Russian technicians and troops in charge.
The future of the Zaporizhzhia site is a critical point in any potential peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. Recent reports suggest Ukraine proposes a 50/50 control of the plant with the US, with half the energy going to Ukraine and the other half distributed by the US, potentially even to Russia.
During our tour of the Khmelnytsky complex, we met staff who worked at Zaporizhzhia when Russia attacked on March 3, 2022. Dariia Zhurba, a technician, and her engineer husband, Ihor, shared their experiences.
"It was scary and frightening when they occupied. We hid in our corridor as gunfire and explosions continued," Dariia recalled.
The couple worked at the plant for a few weeks until the situation became unbearable as the Russians took control. They eventually escaped via occupied Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, and Poland, with their possessions and phones scrutinized by Russian captors.
"They checked everything on our phones, connected them to devices to search our contacts and social media," Dariia said. "They even interrogated us about our relatives and their military service."
They managed to escape Zaporizhzhia, but others were not so fortunate.
"We know people taken to the 'basement' for interrogation," Ihor said. "There were also cases of people taken and then going missing."
We've also connected with Ukrainian workers still at the Zaporizhzhia plant under Russian control. They describe a chaotic environment with little to no maintenance work on the equipment. Russian soldiers are present, and military equipment is stored at the complex.
The biggest concern for plant workers and Energoatom managers is the potential for a Chernobyl-like disaster if Zaporizhzhia remains under Russian control. The plant's nuclear reactors require maintenance and cooling to prevent overheating and rising radiation levels, but the war has damaged electrical substations that provide power for cooling. Additionally, the Russians have sometimes allowed the ponds supplying water for cooling to run low.
Four of Zaporizhzhia's energy blocks use American-made fuel systems, which Russian technicians are not trained to operate.
Alexei Likhachev, head of Russia's Rosatom nuclear agency, insists Russia is maintaining the plant, stating that under Russian law, no other operator is entitled to run it.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) occasionally inspects the Zaporizhzhia plant in Russian-occupied territory, and under temporary ceasefires, supervises repair work and critical cooling system maintenance.
In a recent statement, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi emphasized the impact of military activity on Ukraine's power grid and nuclear facilities.
Ukrainian officials warn of a potential Chernobyl-scale disaster, with Kovtonyuk stating, "It could be much worse than Chernobyl. If Russia brings the situation to core melting, the contamination could be greater."
The long-term future of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear complex is a contentious issue, with evidence suggesting Russia is building power lines away from the plant towards occupied territories and Russia itself. Ukrainian leaders and nuclear officials stand firm against this, emphasizing the plant's importance to Ukraine's energy matrix and the potential for widespread repercussions from a nuclear accident.
