All the external power lines supplying electricity to the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine to help it cool the fuel in its reactors are down, the U.N. nuclear watchdog said on Friday.
‘Ukraine’s ZNPP lost all off-site power at 17:36 today, 9th time during military conflict and first since late 2023,’ the International Atomic Energy Agency said on X, adding that the plant was relying on its emergency diesel generators for power.
Its six reactors are all shut down but the plant requires power to its cooling systems for safety. It is reported that the damaged power line helped to ensure radiation safety.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the ZNPP has already experienced a complete blackout 8 times and has repeatedly been on the verge of a blackout.
Ukraine’s Energy Minister German Galushchenko has confirmed Russia destroyed the power line that connects the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to the power grid.
ZNPP has been held by Russia since the early days of the war following Moscow‘s full-scale invasion in February 2022, although it isn’t producing power.
Inspectors from the UN nuclear watchdog said in May that they haven’t seen any signs of Russia moving to immediately restart the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
All the external power lines supplying electricity to the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine to help it cool the fuel in its reactors are down. Pictured: A fire at a cooling tower of the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in 2024
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, including its Unit No. 4, pictured in June 2023
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the ZNPP has already experienced a complete blackout 8 times and has repeatedly been on the verge of a blackout. Pictured is the Zaporizhzhia Power Plant
The site, which is the largest such facility in Europe, has been a focus of concern for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) during the war in Ukraine amid fears of a potential nuclear catastrophe.
It comes after last year Ukraine launched a drone strike on the plant.
This included an attack on the dome of the plant’s sixth power unit that caused no damage.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said at the time that the possibility of a drone strike at the Zaporizhzhia power plant is ‘consistent’ with what it’s seen.
Posting on X, formerly Twitter, the agency said: ‘One casualty reported. Damage at unit 6 has not compromised nuclear safety, but this is a serious incident w/ potential to undermine integrity of the reactor’s containment system.’
Its chief Rafael Grossi added there had been three ‘direct hits’ to such structures.’
This is a breaking news story, more to follow.
