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Kyiv blames Russian attack for power cut at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

The U.N. nuclear watchdog reported that all external power lines supplying Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is occupied by Russia, were down Friday. Ukraine blamed Russian artillery for the destruction of the last powerline.

The International Atomic Energy Agency reported that Europe's largest nuclear power plant is now running on diesel generators. It has not been operating, but it still needs power to cool its nuclear fuel.

IAEA warned repeatedly of the danger of a catastrophic incident at Zaporizhzhia. This is a city located near the frontline of the Ukraine war. The six reactors have been shut down but the nuclear fuel still needs cooling, and this requires constant power.

IAEA reported on X that "Ukraine’s ZNPP has lost all offsite power today at 17:36, the 9th time in military conflict and the first since late 2023." The ZNPP relies on its emergency diesel generators to provide power, highlighting the extremely precarious situation in nuclear safety.

German Galuschenko wrote on Telegram, Ukraine's Energy Minister, that a Russian strike cut off the plant.

"The enemy has struck the powerline connecting the temporarily occupied nuclear plant (Zaporizhzhia) with the integrated energy system of Ukraine."

The IAEA and the Russian management of the plant did not initially give a reason for the shutdown.

"The reason for the disconnect is being clarified. The station's equipment is safe and under staff control. The management installed in Russia said that no violations of safety conditions had been observed. Reporting by Francois Murph, Ronald Popeski and Peter Graff.

(source: Reuters)