Zaporizhzhya NPP is on the verge of blackout due to Russian attack: what is known

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On November 16, Russian troops damaged a high-voltage line that supplies power to the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP).

As reported by NPC Ukrenergo, the plant is currently operating exclusively on the backup line, and in case of damage, there may be a threat of a complete blackout, which poses a critical threat to radiation safety.

The company noted that power engineers have already found the accident site and are carrying out repairs, despite the high risk to life.

"The place of damage to the main power line has already been identified. Ukrenergo's repair teams are carrying out emergency repair works. We are grateful to our fellow repairmen for their work in conditions of high risk to life," the statement said.

The Ministry of Energy of Ukraine has warned that having only one power line is a gross violation of safety rules. If the backup line is damaged, it will lead to a complete disconnection of the plant from the power grid, which could cause a large-scale accident.

At the same time, Energy Minister Herman Galushchenko emphasized that Russia's actions pose a threat to radiation safety not only for Ukraine but also for the entire region. He emphasized that returning ZNPP to Ukrainian control is the only way to ensure stable and safe operation of the plant.

Zaporizhzhia NPP is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe and the third largest in the world by total capacity. It consists of six nuclear power units of 1 GW each. ZNPP was seized by Russian troops on March 4, 2022. The occupiers use its territory to deploy military equipment and ammunition, which creates a serious radiation hazard. At the same time, the Russians regularly attack the city of Zaporizhzhia and the plant itself, damaging power lines and shutting down power units.

At the end of October, a water leak from a pulse line was detected at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP).

Earlier, Rafael Mariano G rossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said that after a drone strike near Zaporizhzhia NPP on August 17, the nuclear safety situation in the occupied territory of Ukraine had deteriorated. Grossi noted that he again sees an escalation of threats to nuclear safety and security of Zaporizhzhia NPP.