Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy has again warned Russia may be planning to ‘simulate an attack’
Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station lost the connection to its main external power line early on Tuesday morning (4 July), forcing it to rely on recently restored backup power supplies for the electricity it needs for essential nuclear safety and security functions.
International Atomic Energy Agency director-general Rafael Grossi said the six-unit station’s sole remaining 750 kilovolt (kV) power line – out of four available before the conflict – was disconnected at 01:21 local time. It was not immediately known what had prompted the power cut or how long it would last.
Ukraine’s nuclear operator Energoatom confirmed the disconnection on its Telegram and Facebook accounts.
The six-unit Zaporizhzhia, Europe’s largest nuclear power station, has been experiencing major offsite power problems since the conflict began in early 2022, exacerbating the nuclear safety and security risks facing the site, which is on the frontline of fighting.
The IAEA said the disconnection of the 750 kV power line meant the facility had to switch to its only available 330 kV backup power line for offsite electricity that is required, for example, to pump cooling water for the reactors. This 330 kV line was only reconnected to the station on 1 July after being damaged four months ago.
“This time the plant avoided a complete loss of all external power – which has happened seven times previously during the conflict – but the latest power line cut again demonstrates the precarious nuclear safety and security situation at the plant,” Grossi said.
In a statement last week the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO), an industry safety group, called for all parties to prevent further damage to offsite power sources and allow repair of redundant offsite power sources.
“Loss of redundancy further complicates operators’ ability to control and cool reactors and fuel pools,” WANO said.
It said onsite electrical capabilities must be protected by preventing direct damage to emergency generators or loss of ability to fuel or cool these components if offsite power is lost. Spray ponds, on site reservoirs, and ultimate heat sinks must be maintained available. “At Zaporizhzhia, the secondary cooling pond must be protected from damage,” WANO said.
WANO said it wants the six reactors at Zaporizhzhia to remain in nuclear shutdown and no units returned to nuclear operation until an independent assessment of nuclear safety can be conducted on site by the IAEA.
Zelenskiy Warns Of ‘Simulated Attack’ By Russia
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy has again warned Russia may be planning to “simulate an attack” the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, claiming that Russian troops have placed “objects resembling explosives” on the roofs of buildings at the site.
Citing Ukrainian intelligence, Zelenskiy said the objects had been positioned on the roof of several power units of the power plant that is currently held by Russia.
Earlier on Tuesday, Zelenskiy briefed the French president, Emmanuel Macron, on Russia’s “dangerous provocations” at the station. He said he and Macron had “agreed keep the situation under maximum control together with the IAEA”.
Zelenskiy’s warnings echo comments he made last week at a joint news conference in Kyiv with the Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez. “There is a serious threat because Russia is technically ready to provoke a local explosion at the station, which could lead to a [radiation] release,” Zelenskiy said at the time.
