The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a limited local ceasefire near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. This is necessary to repair the plant's last backup power line, stated agency Director General Rafael Grossi.
Zaporizhzhia NPP. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
The 330 kV backup line was damaged on January 2 during hostilities. Since then, the Zaporizhzhia NPP has been operating only on the main 750 kV line. Ukrainian energy workers plan to start repairs in the near future, and an IAEA mission has already headed to the frontline zone to observe the process.
At the Zaporizhzhia plant itself, specialists checked the winter preparedness: anti-freezing systems for water in spent fuel pools and diesel generators are in good working order. Monitoring of the situation continues.
The IAEA also notes that over the past week in Ukraine, there have been several instances where military actions negatively impacted the operation of nuclear power plants. One operational NPP was even forced to temporarily reduce electricity production due to damage to the electrical infrastructure.
According to IAEA data, over the past week, either hostilities or air raid alerts were recorded at all five Ukrainian NPPs. Military objects were observed near the Chernobyl and Khmelnytskyi plants, explosions were heard near the Zaporizhzhia NPP, and air raid alerts were announced almost daily near the South Ukraine NPP, including a military aircraft being recorded at a distance of about 10 kilometers.
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