Ukrainian energy workers prevent Zaporizhzhia NPP blackout caused by Russian attack

Energoatom, Ukraine's state-owned nuclear power company, reported the information.

"On March 22, Ukrainian power engineers restored the operation of the external overhead OHL-750kV Dniprovska line, which was damaged this morning during a massive Russian missile attack," the statement said.

Currently, Zaporizhzhia NPP is being reconnected to the Ukrainian power grid by two power lines: Zaporizhzhia TPP-Ferrosplavna with a voltage of 330 kV and Dniprovska, which provide power for the plant's own needs. 

Earlier, Energoatom reported problems in ZNPP operation.

It noted that around 5 am, during a large-scale missile attack on Ukraine, the external overhead OHL-750kV Dniprovska line, which connects the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP to the unified energy system of Ukraine, was disconnected.

According to Energoatom, the nuclear power plant is currently connected to the Ukrainian power grid only by the Zaporizhzhia TPP-Ferrosplavna 330kV transmission line.

"This situation is extremely dangerous and threatens to cause an emergency. If the last line of communication with the national power grid is disconnected, ZNPP will be in another blackout, which is a serious violation of the conditions for safe operation of the plant," said Energoatom CEO Petro Kotin.  

• On the evening of March 21, Russia launched an attack on Ukraine with drones. Russian drones entered Ukrainian territory from the south. On the night of March 22, Russian troops launched cruise missiles from Tu-95MS aircraft