Three Ukrainian nuclear power plants return to normal generation after Russian attacks

Three operating Ukrainian nuclear power plants – Khmelnytskyi, Rivne and Pivdennoukrainsk – have largely returned to normal electricity generation this week following last week's Russian attacks on the energy system.

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Details: The IAEA reports that almost all power units are now operating at full capacity, with only one unit remaining at reduced output. All high-voltage transmission lines lost during the attacks have also been restored.

Following sustained Russian attacks on Ukraine's power grid, the IAEA is preparing to deploy a team to visit several substations that are critical for nuclear safety.

The expert mission will assess recent damage and the potential impact on nuclear power plant operations. This will be the sixth such mission.

At the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), IAEA staff present at the site have been reporting daily military activity, often very close to the plant. On some days the team heard explosions and gunfire around 20 times, and sometimes much more frequently.

Despite the persistent sounds of military activity in the area, the IAEA team at ZNPP continues to carry out walkdowns to monitor and assess nuclear safety. In recent days, the team inspected two turbine halls and radioactive waste storage facilities. They also observed the testing of an emergency diesel generator and discussed the situation with cooling water on site – one of the most challenging nuclear safety issues at ZNPP.

Background:

• Ukrainian-controlled nuclear plants were forced to reduce output on 19 November after Russian forces attacked energy facilities around the sites.
• The Khmelnytskyi and Rivne plants had already reduced production earlier this month due to military action.
• On 19 November both stations reduced generation further after each lost connection to one of their high-voltage transmission lines.
• The Pivdennoukrainsk plant also lost connection to a high-voltage line and reported detecting 11 drones overnight within a kilometre of the facility.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!