Paulini calls for greater safety for Ukrainian NPPs

Almost one year after the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, Inge Paulini, President of the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS), has called for greater safety for Ukrainian nuclear power plants. "The safety of nuclear power plants must be guaranteed also in armed conflicts. Nuclear power plants are not to be involved in acts of war."

In the first weeks of the war in particular, there was great fear that an incident could occur in a power plant and release radioactivity.

Paulini pointed out that the fear of the effects of a serious incident in a nuclear power plant caused by acts of war was new. "The Russian attacks on the energy infrastructure have also brought the Ukrainian nuclear power plants and nuclear facilities into focus", says Paulini. In the meantime, this danger has faded into the background of public awareness. However, the greatly increased risk of a nuclear accident with considerable consequences would continue to exist as long as the war continues. "There are three main insecurity factors: the fighting, the power supply, and the working conditions for the staff."

The effects of a radiological accident on Germany would be limited

Dispersion calculation for a hypothetical release from the South Ukraine nuclear power plant on 24 February 2023.

Paulini also underlined the demand of the International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA to establish a protection zone around the particularly controversial Zaporizhia nuclear power plant. "This demand that the safety of nuclear power plants in Ukraine be strengthened remains correct – for the protection of the people in Ukraine and far beyond."

The impact of a radiological accident in Ukraine on Germany would be limited. "In the worst case scenario, this would necessitate the monitoring of feed and food in Germany and possibly also a ban on the sale of contaminated products", says Paulini. "However, the local impact could be quite considerable depending on the severity of the incident", says Paulini.

Sympathy for all those affected

President of the Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Dr Inge Paulini

Paulini expressed her sympathy to all the people affected by this war. "One year after the start of the Russian war of aggression on Ukraine, our thoughts are with all the people who live in fear of new attacks every day or who have lost their homes, their integrity, or even their loved ones."

Employees of the BfS have been closely monitoring the situation since the beginning of the war. Up to 500 radioactivity readings in Ukraine are checked every day. Using weather data, the possible effects of a release of radioactive substances are determined four times a day. More than 6,500 dispersion calculations were produced in the first year of the war. The radiological readings have so far all been within the normal range.