Electricity plant crucial for Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant safety suffers major attack, IAEA says
Photo: Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant at risk of losing power (Getty Images)
On the morning of Thursday, June 4, the Zaporizhzhia Thermal Power Plant came under heavy attack. It creates a serious threat to the power supply of the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, reports the IAEA.
The IAEA team, which is stationed at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, recorded light smoke coming from the nearby thermal power plant and heard sounds of military activity. According to available information, employees of the Zaporizhzhia Thermal Power Plant are currently in shelters.
This incident raises serious concerns given the condition of the only power transmission line remaining at the ZNPP.
Over the past weeks, it has already failed several times, causing the plant to switch completely to emergency diesel generators to ensure the electricity supply required to cool six reactors and prevent a nuclear accident.
Currently, the only power transmission line remains connected.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi called for the attack to be stopped immediately to avoid a prolonged loss of power supply at the nuclear facility.
On June 3, the ZNPP was left without an external power supply for the 17th time after a drone strike on a substation on the opposite bank of the Dnipro River. The load was taken over by emergency diesel generators, the nuclear safety situation once again came under serious threat.
Previously, IAEA inspectors visited the ZNPP after claims from the occupying so-called authorities about damage at the plant and confirmed normal radiation levels. During the inspection, the mission had to interrupt its review and take shelter due to the sounds of drones and shooting near the facility.
