Shelling disconnects Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant from Ukraine’s grid

The critical nuclear power plant in the Ukrainian province of Zaporizhzhia has been temporarily disconnected from the country’s power grid by shelling, marking an escalation of Russia’s full-scale invasion and increasing fears that fighting could trigger a catastrophic accident at the facility.

Energoatom, Ukraine’s nuclear power holding, said on Thursday that fires caused by shelling near the atomic power plant had temporarily disconnected its only operational power line from the country’s grid.

“Two working power units of the station were disconnected from the network. Thus, the actions of the [Russian] invaders caused a complete disconnection of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant from the power grid — the first in the history of the plant,” said Energoatom.

“There are currently no concerns on the operation of automation and security systems. Start-up operations are under way to connect one of the power units to the network,” it added.

US president Joe Biden expressed his concern about safety at the plant in a call with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday, calling on Russia to return full control of site to Ukraine and allow international inspectors access.

The conversation came a day after the US pledged to send $3bn in new military assistance to Ukraine.

The State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine said in a statement that the nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe by power-generating capacity, was repeatedly disconnected and reconnected with the power grid on Thursday.

Energoatom said the other lines connecting the plant with Ukraine’s grid were damaged earlier in Russia’s invasion.

Ukraine and Russia have repeatedly accused each other of conducting artillery shelling in the vicinity of the plant, which is based in the town of Energodar in southern Ukraine. The facility was occupied by Russian forces early in its invasion, which began six months ago, and workers now operate under Russian supervision.

The International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN’s nuclear watchdog, said in a statement that Ukrainian authorities had notified it about the temporary lost connection of “its last remaining operational 750 kilovolt external power line”.

“Almost every day there is a new incident at or near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. We can’t afford to lose any more time,” said IAEA general director Rafael Grossi. “I’m determined to personally lead an IAEA mission to the plant in the next few days to help stabilise the nuclear safety and security situation there.”

According to Russia’s Interfax news agency, Vladimir Rogov, a Russian-imposed official in the occupied regions of Zaporizhzhia, told the country’s state television channel the incident did not pose a threat to the nuclear reactors.

Kyiv and western officials have called upon Russia to demilitarise the plant and to allow a mission from the IAEA to visit and monitor it.

After holding talks with French president Emmanuel Macron on Thursday, Grossi said such a “crucial” visit was “imminent”.

On Thursday, the UK’s Ministry of Defence tweeted: “Russia is probably prepared to exploit any Ukrainian military activity near ZNPP for propaganda purposes.”