Russia planning to disconnect Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant from Ukraine’s power grid, cutting off power in southern Ukraine
SATURDAY, 6 AUGUST 2022, 20:24
Energoatom has said that Russian occupying forces are attacking the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in order to destroy its infrastructure, disconnect it from the Ukrainian power grid and cut off power in southern Ukraine.
Source: Energoatom on Telegram
Quote: "Artillery shelling of the Zaporizhzhia NPP is a terrorist act intended to destroy the plant’s infrastructure, disrupt all of its power lines that feed electricity into Ukraine’s power grid and cut off power in the south of the country.
These actions indicate Russia’s turn to a new scenario: one of destruction and of [potential] nuclear and radiation disasters at the ZNPP. This is why the attacks on the ZNPP are very likely to continue."
Details: An Energoatom representative has said that coordinated actions on behalf of key security organisations – such as the UN, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) – can help prevent these disastrous scenarios from unfolding. In addition, the international community has to put pressure on Russia to ensure the withdrawal of the Russian troops from the largest nuclear power facility in Europe.
Otherwise, Russia will be able to fulfil its goal and transform the ZNPP into a military base for nuclear terrorists.
"The actions of Rosatom representatives are facilitating this scenario. [The Rosatom representatives] currently at the ZNPP are coordinating a special schedule that will cut the ZNPP off Ukraine’s power grid by means of artillery shelling of all power lines connecting the ZNPP with Ukraine’s power grid," Energoatom has stressed.
Information obtained by Energoatom also indicates that in addition to destroying the infrastructure of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, Russia is planning its complete blackout; diesel generators will be used to maintain the reactors’ fuel cooling systems and spent fuel reservoirs of each of the power units.
The situation at the power plant is significantly complicated by the military equipment containing weapons and explosives that the Russians have placed in the direct vicinity of power units no. 1 and no.2. This in effect amounts to rigging the power units containing two nuclear reactors with explosives, at the largest nuclear power plant in Europe.
Moreover, the Russian forces have also planted mines along the shore of the ZNPP’s cooling pond and the shore of the nearby Kakhovka reservoir.
"All of this might soon cause a nuclear and radiation disaster, the consequences of which will be felt not only by Ukraine, but by the whole of Europe," Energoatom has warned.
Earlier: On 5 August, the Russian occupying forces seriously damaged the nitrogen-oxygen unit and the combined auxiliary building at the Zaporizhzhia NPP. There are risks of hydrogen leakage and emission of radioactive substances.
Background:
- On 5 August, Energoatom reported that the Russian forces had attacked the territory of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) twice. The first three strikes were recorded near the industrial site and a high-voltage power line was hit.
- During the second attack, the Russian forces used Grad rockets to strike the area near a power unit which contains a nuclear reactor.
- Following the attacks on the ZNPP, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy demanded that harsh sanctions be imposed on the Russian nuclear sector.
- Yana Dabizha, Acting Head of Enerhodar City Council, has said on air during the 24/7 national joint newscast that new explosions rocked the Russian-occupied city of Enerhodar, the ZNPP’s satellite city, on 6 August.
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