Due to Russian shelling, last line of communication with occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP is disconnected – Energoatom

This was reported by Energoatom.

At 03:53 a.m. on March 9, the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP lost its last communication line with the energy system of Ukraine due to missile attacks from Russia.

As a result of the attacks, the station has been de-energized and entered blackout mode. This marks the sixth time that the 5th and 6th power units have been forced into a cold state during the occupation. To meet its own energy needs, the ZNPP has activated 18 diesel generators. However, the fuel reserves for these generators are only expected to last for the next 10 days, and a reverse countdown has begun, according to Energoatom.

If the external power supply of the station is not restored within the specified time, it could result in a radiation accident.

Furthermore, all domestic nuclear power plants in Ukraine have shut down their operations due to the threat of missile attacks. According to the press service, as of 6:30 a.m., all power units are contributing a total of 4,700 MW to the power system.

Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko has claimed that the Russian Federation is once again endangering the world with the possibility of a nuclear disaster. “Another barbaric mass attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, resulting in damage to the last line that supplied power to the ZNPP. As a result, the plant is now operating on diesel generators. Halushchenko asserts that the actions of the Russians are putting the world on the brink of a nuclear disaster, and this has happened just a day after negotiations with the United Nations about the demilitarization of the ZNPP.”

• Russia is deliberately blocking the rotation of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts at the temporarily occupied Zaporizhia NPP.

• On February 20, the Russians placed 600 conscripts and cadets in the bomb shelters of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, where they await transfer to the Donetsk region.

• On February 24, it was reported that the Russian occupiers do not have the opportunity to refuse the employees of the ZNPP who do not want to sign contracts with Rosatom.