Ukraine restores power to Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant reconnected to power (photo: Getty Images)
Power supply to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been restored, allowing the facility to exit its tenth blackout, which had lasted for the past month, Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk said in a statement.
Grynchuk said that energy workers restored power to the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, allowing it to exit a full blackout — the tenth since the start of the full-scale invasion — during which the plant had remained for the past month.
"After the completion of repairs to the 750 kV Dniprovska line, work continues on the 330 kV Ferospavna line. During this entire period, the safety of Europe's largest nuclear plant was maintained solely by emergency diesel generators, which created an unprecedented threat to nuclear and radiation safety not only for Ukraine but for the entire European continent," the minister noted.
As is known, the power outage at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant was caused by systematic shelling and damage to power transmission lines by Russian forces.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian energy workers have already restored the plant's power lines 42 times.
The minister emphasized that the only way to ensure long-term nuclear safety is the de-occupation and demilitarization of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, and its return under the complete legal control of the Ukrainian operator, Energoatom (Ukraine's state nuclear energy company).
"I am grateful to every energy worker, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and all our international partners for their steadfast support and efforts aimed at ensuring nuclear safety," she added.
Blackout at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant
On September 23, Energoatom reported the tenth complete blackout at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant since the beginning of the full-scale war.
According to the company, Russian forces deliberately keep the plant disconnected from Ukraine's power grid. In contrast, the only external power line connecting the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to Ukrainian networks has been taken out of service.
As a result, the nuclear plant was forced to switch to emergency diesel generators.
Experts have warned that such a situation poses a serious threat to nuclear safety, as external power is required to cool the reactors.
Read more about whether a nuclear catastrophe at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is possible and whether the IAEA can help in the material by RBC-Ukraine.
