Shelling at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest, disconnected electricity to one of the plant’s six reactors this Wednesday.
The back-up diesel generators turned on and there were no major issues. External electricity was restored within 45 minutes.
Although the reactors are all in cold shut-down, they still need electricity for vital cooling.
“This once again demonstrates the urgent necessity to establish such a zone around the ZNPP. Until yesterday, there seemed to be less shelling at or near the plant, but this latest episode shows that the danger remains very real. It hasn’t gone away, and we can’t afford to lose any more time,” Director of the IAEA General Grossi said. “I’m determined to do everything I can so that the nuclear safety and security protection zone around the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant becomes reality very soon. My high-level meetings at the United Nations this week are crucial to achieve this objective that is of paramount importance in preventing a severe nuclear accident from happening.”
