The Zaporijia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, under Russian occupation and whose site has suffered several bombardments, is “totally disconnected” from the network after the damage to the communication lines, announced Thursday the Ukrainian operator Energoatom. “The two reactors of the operating plant were disconnected from the grid. As a result, the actions of the invaders caused a complete disconnection of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant from the electricity grid, for the first time in its history,” the group said. of State Energoatom on Telegram.
According to the Ukrainian operator, fires on the territory of the Zaporizhia thermal power plant, located near the nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, twice caused the disconnection of the last line of communication connecting the site to the electrical network. “Three other lines of communication had previously been damaged during Russian terrorist attacks”, continues Energoatom. The electricity supply of the nuclear power plant itself is provided from the thermal power plant, according to the same source. “Operations are underway to connect a reactor to the network,” she added.
‘Currently in progress,’ says IAEA
In the evening, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it had been “informed by Ukraine” of this loss of connection. “But (the plant) is currently running,” the agency said. Because it “stays connected” from “the neighboring thermal power station which can provide emergency electricity”.
The reactors’ emergency protection systems were triggered and all safety systems remained operational, according to IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. “The units remained disconnected from the network also after the restoration of the power line”, he announced, without advancing on the causes of the power cuts.
Regular bombings
For weeks, Moscow and kyiv have accused each other of several bombings that targeted this nuclear power plant, which has six reactors with a total capacity of 6,000 megawatts and has been occupied since March by Russian troops. Ukraine also accuses Russia of storing heavy weapons in the Zaporizhia power plant and using it as a base for strikes on Ukrainian positions.
Moscow denies for its part having deployed weapons in the plant and ensures that there are only units providing security. Russia in turn accuses Ukrainian forces of carrying out drone strikes on the site. The UN has called for a demilitarized zone to be set up around the plant in order to guarantee the security of the site and allow an international inspection mission.