Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant running on single power line amid daily explosions — IAEA

This is stated in the IAEA report, published on May 15.

On May 7, the only backup power line with a voltage of 330 kilovolts, which remained at the disposal of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, was disconnected. This made the station completely dependent on a single working 750 kV line. According to the IAEA, the damage occurred in territory controlled by Ukraine, at some distance from the nuclear power plant itself. However, due to intense fighting in the area, the Ukrainian energy system operator is currently unable to carry out repairs.

The IAEA recalled that despite the fact that all six reactors of the ZNPP have been shut down since mid-2022, the station still needs external power to cool nuclear fuel and prevent possible accidents. Before the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, the facility was connected to ten power lines, which guaranteed a stable energy supply.

"Throughout the war, off-site power has been the main Achilles heel for nuclear safety and security at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant. The situation has, unfortunately, not improved in this regard. Our experts on the ground will continue to monitor developments very closely and we will continue to inform the world about nuclear safety and security at the plant, which remains precarious," said IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi.

Over the past week, the IAEA team has continued to hear military activity and explosions at various distances from the ZNPP on a daily basis, and early Tuesday morning the mission also heard a sound similar to that of a drone flying by.

The team also reportedly discovered a loosened bolt on two power generators and signs that some work may have recently been carried out on one of them:

"The ZNPP stated that there had not been any maintenance performed recently but acknowledged that the screws should not have been loose, one of which they said was due to vibrations. The IAEA team plans to observe scheduled testing of one of these EDGs in the coming days," the statement says.

• According to Energoatom, the Russians are illegally holding 13 ZNPP employees in captivity.