Ukraine has identified seven substations that are critical for distributing power from nuclear plants, which will now be under the watch of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) missions, according to Petro Kotin, head of National Nuclear Power Generating Company Energoatom. He made the announcement at the international conference "Nuclear Opportunities for the Country's Development: Wartime and Post-War Recovery" organized by the company on October 15.

"Seven critical substations for energy supply have been designated, through which nuclear power plants distribute their output. The schedule for IAEA missions is already set. One mission has already begun at one of the substations," Kotin said.

According to Kotin, damage to these substations could not only disrupt the transmission of electricity from the nuclear plants but also affect the plants' power supply from Ukraine's grid, potentially leading to a blackout and risking an accident.

"I believe that expanding the IAEA mission to these substations will help provide them with political protection," added the head of Energoatom.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's Ministry of Energy, citing EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson following a meeting of the EU Council of Ministers on Tuesday, confirmed that the European Commission will allocate EUR 3 million for IAEA monitoring missions at Ukraine's nuclear power plants. This funding can also be used at critical substations that ensure the operation of nuclear power plants.

The funds are provided through the European Instrument for International Nuclear Safety Cooperation (INSC).