IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi told reporters the security situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine "continues to be very, very serious." He described mediation by the agency that helped secure pauses or local deconfliction so electricians could repair damaged power lines. "That was done, and it was, a modest but important success," Grossi said of the repairs that restored functions necessary for plant safety.

Grossi also addressed broader civilian nuclear safety, saying IAEA safety standards apply equally to reactors regardless of supplier country. "The safety standards are the same for all," he said, describing peer reviews and safety visits as tools the agency uses to compare and assess performance across designs.

Why it matters: The Zaporizhzhia plant is the largest nuclear facility in Europe, and sustained power, cooling and repair access are essential for safe operation. Grossi framed the IAEA's role as both technical assessor and mediator when military operations threaten safety-critical infrastructure.