IAEA: 2 Ukrainian nuclear power plants affected by Russian missile attacks

Two Ukrainian nuclear power plants – Khmelnytskyi (KhNPP) and Rivne (RNPP) – suffered from massive Russian shelling on 15 November.

Source: Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Quote: "This was a very concerning development. It shows the potential nuclear safety and security risks facing all of Ukraine’s nuclear facilities during this terrible war, not just the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant. While off-site power is now back at the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant, yesterday’s power loss clearly demonstrates that the nuclear safety and security situation in Ukraine can suddenly take a turn for the worse, increasing the risk of a nuclear emergency."

Details: Based on information received from the Ukrainian authorities, The IAEA has reported that the Khmelnytskyi NPP’s grid connection was completely lost due to military [Russian] attacks in its vicinity.

This forced the power plant to temporarily rely on diesel generators for back-up power.

During this period, the plant’s two reactors were shut down, stopping their delivery of electricity to households, factories and other facilities.

The plant only regained off-site power supply after a lapse of more than nine hours.

Another nuclear power plant also located in western Ukraine – Rivne – lost connection to one of the 750 kV power lines due to Russian shelling.

As a result, this station reduced its power output, and one of its four units was automatically disconnected.

At 04:00 on 16 November Rivne NPP succeeded in restoring power supply to the Ukrainian power grid.

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