The Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant last night had a complete loss of outside power, as its backup line was disconnected. The plant has been in Russian-controlled territory for more than four years and has been managed by them, but their last two electrical lines originate in Ukrainian-controlled land. The Russian managers have kept the six reactors in shutdown mode, given their inability to keep the plant from being attacked. At this time, the cooling of the inactive reactors is being carried out, temporarily, by diesel generators. ZNPP spokesperson Yevgenia Yashina told TASS: “The cause of the incident is unclear. We have shared the information with the IAEA inspectors stationed at the plant.”
The plant’s main 750-kV line has been down for months. It is the backup 330-kV Ferosplavnaya-1 high-voltage power line that was cut off last night. Ukrainian authorities claim that they are looking into the situation. This is the seventh time, over the last three months, that the backup line has been shut off.
