Three Ukrainian nuclear power plants cut output after Russian attacks

Three Ukrainian nuclear power plants cut electricity generation following extensive Russian attacks on Thursday morning, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported. Agency chief Rafael Grossi said on Thursday that, for the second time in less than two weeks, the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant, the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant and the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant in Mykolaiv Oblast had reduced output as a precaution amid „extensive military activity“ in Ukraine.

Air-raid sirens sounded at all three sites, and two IAEA teams operating in Ukraine had to take shelter, Grossi also reported. The three plants have a total of nine reactors, which reduced their output. One unit at the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant was disconnected from the grid.

„Ukraine’s energy infrastructure is extremely fragile and vulnerable, and nuclear safety is at risk,“ Grossi warned.

„I once again call for maximum restraint in fighting in areas with major nuclear facilities and at other locations on which these facilities depend,“ he also said.

There are four nuclear power plants on Ukrainian territory. However, Russian forces occupied the Zaporizhzhia plant at the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022, and the site is under Russian control. The plant, the largest in Europe, is not generating electricity.

Thursday morning’s Russian attack was aimed mainly at Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leaving more than one million customers without electricity in the west of the country.

hab ank