Latest news with #ZaporizhzhiaNuclearPowerPlant
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russia cannot safely restart Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant – Ukraine's Energy Ministry
Russia is unable to restore the safe operation of the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), and its statements about such intentions are merely an attempt to blackmail Ukraine and the international community. Source: Yurii Sheiko, First Deputy Energy Minister of Ukraine, on air during the national joint 24/7 newscast, as reported by Expro, a Ukrainian energy and oil & gas consultancy Details: Sheiko recalled that on 28 May, Ukraine's Permanent Mission to international organisations in Vienna sent a note to the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) Secretariat condemning Russia's plans to potentially connect the ZNPP to the Russian power grid and construct transmission lines for this purpose. Quote: "The plant is not ready to operate. There are major risks involved in restarting the reactors. A full inspection of the equipment and systems is necessary, as no maintenance has been carried out at the ZNPP. There is no qualified personnel familiar with the equipment – including Ukrainian-made components installed during the plant's modernisation." More details: The deputy energy minister stressed that the Russians have "neither spare parts nor materials and zero knowledge of how to repair, service or operate the plant". At present, the ZNPP continues to receive power from Ukraine's national grid. Background: It was recently reported that Russia intends to restart and operate the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant despite the risks and calls to address the plant's status within peace negotiations. Construction of power transmission lines from the ZNPP to other temporarily occupied territories is ongoing. A new line has been spotted in the Mariupol district of Donetsk Oblast. Meanwhile, the IAEA has stated that there are currently no signs that Russia is preparing to restart the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Russia builds power lines to connect occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to its grid, NYT reports
Russia is constructing power lines in occupied southern Ukraine in an apparent attempt to link the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) to its energy grid, the New York Times reported on May 27, citing a new Greenpeace report. The Zaporizhzhia plant, the largest nuclear facility in Europe and one of the ten largest globally, has been under Russian occupation since March 2022. Satellite imagery included in the report shows that since early February 2025, Russian forces have laid over 80 kilometers (49 miles) of high-voltage lines between occupied Mariupol and Berdyansk, following the coastline of the Sea of Azov. Greenpeace experts believe the construction aims to connect the new lines to a large substation near Mariupol, which could, in turn, be linked to the ZNPP, which is located some 225 kilometers (some 139 miles) away. It sits in the city of Enerhodar in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Oblast, on the east bank of the Dnipro River, which remains under Russian control. Ukrainian authorities have no access to the site or its surrounding infrastructure. Shaun Burnie, a nuclear specialist at Greenpeace, said that the satellite evidence offers the first concrete confirmation of Russian President Vladimir Putin's plans to restart the plant and permanently integrate it into Russia's grid. The construction of power infrastructure indicates long-term intentions to seize full control of Ukraine's energy assets in the occupied regions. Russia has repeatedly asserted ownership over the plant based on its illegal annexation of Zaporizhzhia Oblast in September 2022, despite the fact that Ukraine retains control over much of the oblast, including its administrative center. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly expressed concern over the safety of the plant, where shelling and the presence of armed troops have led to multiple emergency shutdowns and power disruptions. The U.S. has reportedly proposed that control over the ZNPP be returned to Ukraine before transferring its management to the U.S. to supply electricity to areas under both Ukrainian and Russian control. Russia immediately rejected the suggestion. Read also: Why did Russia invade Ukraine? Debunking Putin's 'root causes' claims We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Zaporizhzhia nuclear plan has relied on single power line for over week
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) has been relying on a single power line for over a week to supply the electricity necessary to maintain key nuclear safety functions. Source: Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as reported on the IAEA website Details: It is noted that the only backup power line to the Zaporizhzhia NPP, with a capacity of 330 kilovolts (kV), was disconnected on 7 May, leaving the plant fully dependent on the only functioning 750 kV line. The IAEA stated that the damage occurred in territory controlled by Ukraine, some distance from the plant, and that the Ukrainian power system operator is currently unable to carry out repairs due to active hostilities in the area. The IAEA reiterated that the six reactors at the Zaporizhzhia NPP have been shut down since mid-2022, but they still require external power for fuel cooling and minimising the risk of an accident. Before the full-scale invasion, the plant had access to ten power lines, which ensured reliable external power supply. "Throughout the war, off-site power has been the main Achilles heel for nuclear safety and security at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The situation has, unfortunately, not improved in this regard," said Grossi. It is reported that over the past week, the IAEA team has continued to hear military activity and explosions at various distances from the plant every day. The team also heard sounds of shelling and, possibly, drones early on Tuesday morning. Background: As reported on 7 May, the Zaporizhzhia NPP lost one of the two external power lines connecting the temporarily occupied plant to Ukraine's unified power grid due to Russian attacks. In 2024, the Ukrainian State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate received 21 reports about operational events at Ukraine's nuclear power plants, 17 of which have been reviewed. Meanwhile, IAEA reports lack technical detail when it comes to investigations at the Zaporizhzhia NPP. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russians illegally detain 13 workers of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant
Energoatom, Ukraine's state-owned nuclear energy operator, has reported that the Russians are holding at least 13 employees of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant hostage. Source: Energoatom on Telegram Details: It is noted that since the beginning of the occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), which is also Europe's largest power plant, Russia has begun unprecedented pressure on nuclear workers who refused to switch sides and sign worthless contracts with Rosatom, Russia's state-run nuclear power company. About 5,000 specialists were able to leave the temporarily occupied city of Enerhodar where the ZNPP is located, and Energoatom is taking care of their employment in other divisions of the company. However, at least 13 ZNPP employees are known to have been deprived of their freedom by the Russians in the temporarily occupied territory. Seven of them have been "sentenced" to imprisonment, and three are still in prison awaiting fake verdicts. The fate of three more remains unknown – they are considered missing. In addition, at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russia tortured to death ZNPP diver Andrii Honcharuk. The Russians continue to use the ZNPP as a military base. Military vehicles are parked in the machine halls of the power units, and explosive weapons are stored there. Energoatom emphasised that the plant's equipment was deteriorating, and there could be no question of a safe restart of the ZNPP. Quote: "All illegally detained nuclear workers must be immediately released from Russian captivity. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant must immediately be transferred to the control of its legal operator, Energoatom, and Russia must withdraw its military personnel and military equipment from the plant. This is the only way to restore nuclear and radiation safety across the entire continent!" Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Moscow ready to discuss US presence at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Russian nuclear giant's chief says
Russia is ready to engage in a discussion with Washington about the US presence at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). Before that, the Russians had categorically refused to tackle this issue. Source: Aleksei Likhachev, Head of Russian nuclear energy giant Rosatom, in response to a question from Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency Interfax Quote from Likhachev: "If the country's leadership makes a political decision, we're ready to discuss this with the US side." Details: Prior to that, the Russians had absolutely refused to discuss this issue. Background: On 23 April, IAEA experts at the Zaporizhzhia NPP heard loud gunshots near the main administrative building where their office is located. Additionally, the IAEA team has reported hearing explosions and gunshots almost daily over the past week at varying distances from the plant. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stated that the situation is highly unstable from a nuclear safety perspective. Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remarked that a proposal for US control over the Zaporizhzhia NPP raises many unresolved questions. He added that a scenario where the United States, alongside Ukraine, would jointly control the plant is acceptable, though no such proposals have been made. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
