Four main power lines normally connect the largest nuclear power plant in Europe to the Ukrainian power grid. Three of them have been cut for a long time. Now the last one is also interrupted. Combat operations near the reactors continue despite the IAEA team on the ground.
The Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, which was occupied by Russian troops, has again been shut down. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said the connection between the power plant's last remaining main power line and the utility grid had been disrupted. The IAEA was informed "on site today" that the plant would continue to supply electricity via a reserve line.
"One reactor is still operating and producing electricity for both cooling and other essential safety functions of the facility and for homes, factories and others," the IAEA statement said.
The Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, which has been occupied by Russia since March, and its surroundings have been repeatedly shelled in recent weeks. Ukraine and Russia blame each other for the attacks. As early as August 25, the nuclear power plant was temporarily completely cut off from the power grid - for the first time in the history of Europe's largest nuclear power plant.
According to the IAEA report, the nuclear power plant originally had a total of four main power lines. Three of them had been cut off "earlier during the conflict". The fighting surrounding the nuclear power plant is fueling fears of a nuclear catastrophe like the one in Chernobyl in 1986. Experts from the IAEA arrived at the power plant on Thursday.
The 14-strong team is to check the security of the facility. IAEA boss Rafael Grossi and some other members of the team left on Thursday, but according to Russian information, six of the international inspectors remained in the facility. Two IAEA experts should therefore remain permanently in the nuclear power plant.
The fighting continued after the arrival of the IAEA experts. Ukraine says it fired at a Russian base near the nuclear power plant on Friday. In the city of Enerhodar and in the city of Cherson, also in the south, "precise attacks" destroyed three Russian artillery systems and an ammunition depot, the Ukrainian armed forces said.
