The Ukrainian nuclear energy operator said Thursday that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was left without electricity due to a Russian strike and is now running on diesel generators.
The outage occurred during a new wave of Russian strikes across Ukraine, which killed at least nine people and caused widespread power outages.
“As a result of rocket attacks, the last power line between the occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP and the Ukrainian power system was severed,” Energoatom said.
According to the operator, this was the sixth time the facility had been disconnected from the power grid since Russian forces took over the plant last year.
The plant is powered by diesel generators, which can meet the facility’s energy requirements for 10 days, according to Energoatom.
“The countdown has started. If the station’s external power supply cannot be renewed during this time, an accident with global radiation consequences may occur “According to Energoatom.
The plant’s Russian operators said diesel generators were turned on after a “short-circuit” on power lines but provided no further details.
“There are sufficient fuel reserves to ensure generator operation,” they said in a statement, adding that all safety and security concerns at the plant were addressed.
On March 4, 2022, Moscow’s troops seized the plant, just days after invading Ukraine.
Moscow and Kyiv have both accused each other of shelling around Zaporizhzhia, Europe’s largest nuclear facility.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) sent observers to the plant in September and is attempting to negotiate a demilitarized zone near the facility, but negotiations appear to have stalled.
