The warning by independent human rights experts comes as international concern deepens over the sensitivity of Ukraine’s nuclear facilities. These nuclear plants depend on a stable power grid for their safety and security operations.
The Special Reporters Group says Russia’s massive attack on Ukraine’s electricity system has caused extensive damage to power substations. These stations are crucial for the functioning of nuclear power plants in the country.
These night-time attacks caused extensive damage, disrupted power supply and caused civilian casualties. The attack comes at a time when the winter season is spreading in Ukraine and the demand for fuel is increasing.
Earlier, a group of 13 special rapporteurs of the United Nations had issued a warning. On October 22, he formally reminded Russia that these attacks are prohibited under international humanitarian law.
The attacks came despite the International Court of Justice (ICC) issuing arrest warrants against top Russian officials in June 2024. The warrant was issued to target Ukraine’s power and energy companies.
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine collected data on civilian casualties in attacks on energy facilities.
Zaporozhye nuclear plant
According to independent experts, there are credible allegations of intimidation, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance and torture by the Russian military at the Zaporizhia nuclear plant.
He said that two-thirds of the power generation capacity had been destroyed and that further damage to Ukraine’s energy system would result in a complete shutdown of power supply.
This will affect the performance of nuclear reactors and they will lose connection to the power grid, which is essential for their safety.
Prevent attacks, avoid risks
The Special Rapporteur feared that this situation could lead to accidents like Fukushima Daiichi in Japan in 2011 or Chernobyl in Ukraine in 1986, with fatal consequences.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has agreed to expand its mission to Ukraine to inspect power substations, but so far there has been limited progress.
Independent human rights experts have called on the Russian military to immediately stop attacks on Ukrainian power generation plants, substations, transmission and distribution systems to avoid the risk of a nuclear disaster.
Human rights expert
Special Rapporteurs and independent human rights experts are part of the UN Special Human Rights Mechanism.
They are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to investigate a specific human rights issue or situation in a country and submit a report.
These positions are honorary and human rights experts receive no salary from the United Nations for their work.