The Ukrainian Zaporozhye nuclear power plant is “on the verge of a nuclear accident” due to a power outage, Kiev residents assure

Concerns around the Ukrainian Zaporozhye nuclear power plant. The latter was “on the verge of a nuclear accident” due to a power outage, Ukrainian nuclear operator Energoatom said at noon on Saturday. The nuclear power plant, in Russian hands since invading the country in 2022, was “on the brink of a nuclear accident” on Friday night due to a temporary power outage, the operator said.

“Last night there was a complete blackout at the Zaporozhye power plant,” Energoatom wrote on Telegram, adding that power supply was restored a few hours later. “The (Russian) occupation forces do not care about security at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant,” accused the operator’s president, Petr Kotin. Two power lines feeding the plant “were cut,” and one of them “was cut off during an air raid,” he explained.

Came under fire several times and was disconnected from the power grid.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed this Saturday that Europe’s largest power plant has lost power for the “eighth time” since the conflict began, “raising concerns about nuclear safety.” But this power outage is dangerous for the normal functioning of the plant, which threatens a “nuclear and radiation accident,” Energoatom said.

It has been damaged by fire several times in the past and was cut off from the power grid. This dangerous situation raised fears of a major nuclear accident. The failure of one of the two lines appears to have been caused by an incident that occurred “far from the power plant,” the IAEA said, without giving further details.

“The latest outage of external power supply is a new reminder of the instability of nuclear safety and plant safety, which can be affected by events occurring very far from the site itself,” IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said, quoted in the report. Press release. Energoatom President Petr Kotin accused the Russian military of “not caring about safety at the Zaporozhye NPP.” “They will continue to create dangerous situations, blackmailing the whole world with a nuclear and radiation accident,” he concluded.