Russian shelling damages facilities important for Ukraine’s nuclear safety
31 October 06:19
Russia’s massive attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure on the night of Thursday, October 30, damaged substations important for the operation of nuclear power plants.
This was reported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
Where the problems were recorded
According to the IAEA, experts who are permanently stationed at Ukrainian NPPs reported several incidents.
The South Ukrainian NPP and Khmelnytsky NPP each lost one external power line that provides backup power to the plants;
At Rivne NPP, two out of four power units were reduced in capacity at the request of the grid operator due to grid overload.
Why it is important
External power supply lines are critical for cooling reactors and maintaining NPP safety systems. Their loss increases the risks in case of further attacks or outages.
What the IAEA says
The agency’s Director General Rafael Grossi said that the situation demonstrates real and ongoing threats to nuclear safety in Ukraine.
“The threats remain very real and ever-present. Maximum restraint is needed around nuclear facilities and strict adherence to the seven key principles of nuclear safety and security,” Grossi emphasized.
Despite the threats, the IAEA confirms that the reactors remain under control and the radiation background is within normal limits.
