DiXi Group participated in the preparation of the analytical study “Enhancing Nuclear Safety: Protecting Nuclear Power Plants Against Military Threats,” developed by Ukrainian and South African experts which is dedicated to strengthening nuclear safety in the context of armed conflicts.
At the center of the analysis is the unprecedented case of the military occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest in Europe. With six power units and a total capacity of 6 GW, the plant generated around a quarter of Ukraine’s electricity before the full scale invasion. Its seizure became the first instance in history of military control over an operating nuclear power plant of such scale and a critical test for international mechanisms designed to protect nuclear infrastructure.
The study demonstrates that the current architecture of international nuclear regulation contains general protection norms but lacks effective instruments to respond to military occupation or systematic attacks. The limited mandate of international institutions allows for monitoring, yet does not ensure enforcement. As a result, nuclear safety in wartime remains largely dependent on the political will of the parties to a conflict.
Special attention is given to the fact that the resilience of a nuclear power plant is determined not only by the condition of its reactors. It also depends on the stability of external power supply, cooling systems, backup power sources, and the entire interconnected infrastructure. Damage to power grids, water facilities, or auxiliary systems during hostilities can create risks comparable to those of a technological accident. Therefore, protecting nuclear facilities must extend to the broader infrastructure ecosystem, not solely the reactor site itself.
The authors emphasize the need to develop binding international norms that explicitly prohibit military attacks on or occupation of nuclear installations, expand international oversight powers in crisis situations, and integrate wartime risks into nuclear safety standards. Without updating these approaches, the global system remains vulnerable to precedents that could recur in other regions.
The growing role of nuclear energy in the energy transition makes this issue particularly urgent. The events surrounding the Zaporizhzhia NPP have shown that nuclear safety can no longer be viewed solely through a technical lens. In an era of geopolitical instability, it becomes a matter of international security.
The study was prepared in partnership with the South African Institute of International Affairs, the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation, and the Ukrainian Association of South Africa. The analysis reflects the situation as of June 2025.