One of the six reactors at a Russian-held nuclear plant in southern Ukraine was shut down Thursday as an emergency protection measure after shelling in the area, Ukraine’s nuclear agency said.
The shutdown came as a team of UN experts was en route to inspect the plant — Europe’s largest atomic facility — that is located on the frontline in an area repeatedly hit by shelling.
The plant’s proximity to the fighting has stoked global fears of a nuclear disaster.
Energoatom, which operates the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP), said the emergency protection system kicked in shortly before 5:00 am (0200 GMT) “due to another (Russian) mortar shelling” and that “operating power unit five was shut down”.
In a posting on Telegram, it said the plant’s backup power supply for in-house needs “was damaged” in the attack, causing a blackout.
“This is the second time in the last 10 days that the criminal actions of the Russian military have caused the shutdown of the unit and the power plant blackout,” it said.
After the power plant was captured by Russian forces on March 4, Energoatom initially shut off two of the reactors, followed by a third after a shelling incident on August 5.
With a fourth reactor being repaired, that left only reactors five and six working, although last week, they were both shut down then restarted.
With Thursday’s shutdown, only reactor six is currently functioning.
“Power unit six keeps operating in the Ukraine power system and at the same time powers the ZNPP’s in-house needs. The power plant’s Ukrainian workers are doing their best to prevent damage to its infrastructure,” it said.
‘Time to stop playing with fire’ round Ukraine nuclear plant: ICRC chief
Kyiv, Ukraine (AFP) Sept 1, 2022 –
The Red Cross on Thursday demanded a halt to all military operations around a Russian-held nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, warning the consequences of a strike could be “catastrophic”.
His remarks came as a top-level team of inspectors from the IAEA, the UN’s nuclear watchdog, were en route to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant which is located on the frontline between Russian and Ukrainian troops.
“It is high time to stop playing with fire and instead take concrete measures to protect this facility and others like it from any military operations,” Robert Mardini, director general of the ICRC, told reporters in Kyiv.
“The slightest miscalculation could trigger devastation that we will regret for decades.”
The area around the plant — Europe’s largest nuclear facility — has suffered repeated shelling, with both sides accusing each other of responsibility, sparking global concern over the risk of an accident.
Mardini said it was “encouraging” that the IAEA team was en route to inspect the plant because the stakes were “immense”.
“When hazardous sites become battlegrounds, the consequences for millions of people and the environment can be catastrophic and last many years,” he said.
“In the event of a nuclear leak, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to provide humanitarian assistance.”
Just before the UN team left for the Zaporizhzhia plant in Russian-held territory, Ukraine accused Russian forces of staging a sustained attack on Energodar, the town next to the facility.
But Moscow hit back, accusing Kyiv of smuggling in a large number of military “saboteurs” with Russian forces taking “measures to annihilate the enemy”.
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IAEA chief taking team to Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
Kyiv, Ukraine (AFP) Aug 29, 2022
International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi said on Monday he was en route to inspect Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which has been targeted by fresh shelling over the past day, according to its operator.
The Zaporizhzhia plant – Europe’s largest atomic facility – has been occupied by Russian troops since the start of the war.
Moscow and Kyiv are trading blame for shelling around the complex of six Soviet-designed nuclear reactors in the city of Energodar, in southern Ukraine … read more
