On Saturday, Ukraine announced that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear facility was at risk of an “accident” due to the cutting of two power lines that connected the plant to its energy system overnight.
Since Russian forces took control of the plant last year, it has been the focus of conflict, with both sides accusing the other of endangering the plant’s security.
Ukraine’s nuclear energy operator said in a statement that “due to the complete blackout, the nuclear power plant switched to powering its own needs from 20 diesel generators.”
Before Ukrainian experts could quickly restore off-site power, it stated that the plant was “on the verge of a nuclear and radiation accident.”
AFP was unable to confirm Ukraine’s account of events right away.
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Although the plant’s Russian operator acknowledged that diesel generators were used during the night, they added that all operations had taken place within safe parameters and that no safety breaches had been notified.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) cautioned that this is the eighth time since the crisis started last year that the plant has been shut off from outside electricity.
“The most recent external power outage is yet another reminder about the precarious nuclear safety and security situation at the plant, which can be affected by events far away from the site itself,” Rafael Grossi, the head of the IAEA, stated.
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“The IAEA is still making every effort to avert a nuclear mishap. I further urge everyone involved to refrain from doing anything that would put the facility in even greater danger,” he said.
IAEA representatives have been on the ground since last year keeping an eye on plant safety. The facility needs ongoing maintenance to avoid overheating.
Throughout the course of the 21-month battle, it has been repeatedly rocked by drone attacks and shelling, and it stopped producing electricity to Ukraine’s grid in September 2022.
