For the first time in its history, the Zaporijjia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, was completely disconnected from the electricity grid. It no longer supplies electricity to Ukraine, whereas before the war it supplied 20% of the country’s electricity needs. The plant has been occupied by Russian forces since March. Ukraine’s state-owned Energoatom blames Russian forces for causing the disconnect.
Of the six reactors at the plant, only two continued to operate, and to supply part of Ukraine with electricity. But the last power line that connected them to the Ukrainian network was cut due to several outbreaks of fire on the site of a nearby thermal power plant, explains Energoatom.
According to the Ukrainian operator, whose employees continue to work on site, ” the actions of the invaders caused this disconnect “.
Important clarification: according to Energoatom, the supply of electricity to the nuclear power plant itself remains assured from the neighboring thermal power plant, via a backup line, the last one still operational. This is essential to allow the cooling of the reactors.
For several weeks, kyiv and Moscow have been accusing each other of bombardments on the site of the Zaporijjia power plant. Russia, which has occupied the premises since March, would like to be able to use the energy from the plant to supply Crimea, annexed in 2014.
Any Russian attempt to hijack Ukrainian nuclear energy would be ” unacceptable “, warned Washington, this Thursday evening.
The UN and several foreign states are calling on Russian troops to leave, to set up a demilitarized zone around the plant, where a delegation from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is due to visit soon.
► Listen again: Zaporizhia power plant: “Russian generals are aware of the risks of nuclear disaster”