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All Nuclear Power Plants in Ukraine Reduce Output as a Precaution Against Russian Attacks

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Photo: All Nuclear Power Plants in Ukraine Reduce Output as a Precaution Against Russian Attacks. Source: IAEA-org
Photo: All Nuclear Power Plants in Ukraine Reduce Output as a Precaution Against Russian Attacks. Source: IAEA-org

Ukraine's three operating nuclear power plants reduced power generation on Thursday morning following Russia's latest terrorist attacks on energy infrastructure, which further increased the threat to the country's nuclear safety.

According to Ukrinform, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi announced on Thursday that the capacity of Ukrainian nuclear power plants had been reduced.  

In his statement, Grossi did not mention Russia as a state that is shelling Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

‘For the second time in less than two weeks, Khmelnytsky, Rivne and South Ukrainian NPPs have reduced their power levels as a precautionary measure during the large-scale military operations in the country,’ Grossi said.

According to him, two IAEA teams working in Ukraine were forced to take cover in shelters during the air raids.

‘The IAEA will continue to do everything in its power to reduce the risk of a nuclear incident during this tragic war,’ he added.

In total, all nine reactors at the nuclear power plants have reduced their power. One reactor at Rivne NPP is disconnected from the grid.

All nuclear power plants are receiving external power, although Khmelnytsky NPP has lost connection with two power lines, the IAEA director general said in a statement.

‘Ukraine's energy infrastructure is extremely fragile and vulnerable, which poses a major risk to nuclear safety,’ Grossi said. - ‘I reiterate my call for maximum military restraint in the areas where major nuclear power facilities and other facilities on which they depend are located.

He did not specify whom exactly Grossi was calling for military restraint.  

It is noted that there were no reports of direct damage to the nuclear power plant, but the strikes once again affected the operation of power substations used by nuclear power plants to transmit and receive electricity.

These substations had been damaged during previous shelling, including in August.

IAEA teams visited seven off-site substations across Ukraine in September and October to assess the situation after the August shelling and, finding significant damage, concluded that the ability of the power system to provide reliable off-site power to Ukraine's NPPs had been significantly reduced.

According to the IAEA Director General, the agency will continue to assess the extent of damage to facilities and power lines that are important for nuclear safety.

As a reminder, in 2022, at the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia committed an act of nuclear terrorism and seized Zaporizhzhya NPP in Ukraine, which is the largest in Europe and one of the 10 largest in the world. 

The seizure of ZNPP by the Russian occupiers occurred on 4 March 2022, on the ninth day of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, when the nuclear and thermal power plants were seized by Russian troops during the battle for Enerhodar. On 12 March 2022, it was reported that the facility was controlled by the Russian company Rosatom.

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