The recent bombardments around the Zaporijjia power plant continue to weaken the building, occupied by the Russians, and whose six reactors are now shut down.
In a statement published this Friday, December 30, and spotted by The Independent Kiyv, the AEIA, the International Atomic Energy Agency, indicates that the plant has lost its connection to the emergency power line due to a new bombing raid.
⚡️IAEA: Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant loses connection to back-up power line due to shelling.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) December 30, 2022
"A 330-kilovolt emergency power line at Ukraine's Zaporizhia nuclear power plant was disconnected late yesterday due to damage caused by shelling," we learn.
“The IAEA team of experts present at the plant reported that its connection to the 330 kV backup line (…) was lost at 9.35 p.m. local time yesterday following damage on the other side of the Dnipro river,” the statement continued.
AEIA calls for an end to bombings "threatening nuclear security"
The extent of the damage is not yet clear but repair work on the line is already underway, the IAEA team added.
Rafael Mariano Grossi, the director general of the institution governed by the United Nations thus underlined “the fragility of the supply of electricity from the network” in Ukraine.
This was the "last functional emergency power line" of the plant.
The AEIA adds that it is “vital that it is restored as soon as possible”.
He explains that “any military action potentially threatening the nuclear safety and security of Ukrainian nuclear power plants must stop immediately”.
Shelling damage has disconnected 🇺🇦 Zaporizhzhya NPP's 330kV backup power line;
plant is receiving offsite electricity from last 750kV external line.
3 other Ukraine NPPs are restoring previous electricity production levels after yday's missile attacks https://t.co/1rysHdO2v5 pic.twitter.com/HtDJnP11fa
— IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) December 30, 2022
In the rest of its press release, the IAEA details that "the country's three other nuclear power plants - located on territory under Ukrainian control (…) were in the process of restoring their electricity production levels after a drop in production following the yesterday's missile attacks (Editor's note: this Thursday)".