Several NPP substations damaged by Russian shelling – IAEA
18 November 08:40
Rafael Mariano Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said that Ukraine’s nuclear power plants have reduced electricity production due to massive military actions aimed at the country’s energy infrastructure. According to him, these attacks have created additional pressure on nuclear safety and security, Komersant ukrainskyi reports
Thus, Khmelnytsky, Rivne and South Ukrainian NPPs did not suffer direct damage and did not stop working. However, according to Ukraine’s national regulator, several electrical substations on which these plants depend were damaged. As a result, four major power lines were down.
Of the nine operating power units, only two are currently operating at full capacity, while the other six have reduced production to between 40% and 90% of their maximum capacity. One unit is under repair.
Despite the damage, all NPPs continue to receive external power supply to cool the reactors.
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Inspection results and current threats
IAEA teams visited seven substations across Ukraine in September and October to assess the impact of the previous attacks in August. After today’s shelling, new inspections will be decided.
At the Khmelnytsky NPP, the IAEA team heard a powerful explosion during an air raid. Two 330 kilovolt lines are reported to be out of service at Rivne NPP.
Rafael Grossi emphasized that nuclear power plants need reliable connections to the power grid to transmit the generated electricity and to provide power in case of accidents.
“The growing fragility of the power grid is one of the main challenges for nuclear safety and security during this conflict,” he emphasized,
– he emphasized.
The IAEA Director called on the parties to the conflict to adhere to the seven key principles of nuclear safety, especially the fourth, which requires guaranteed external power supply for all nuclear facilities.
“Ukraine’s energy infrastructure remains extremely vulnerable, which directly affects nuclear safety. We continue to assess the extent of the damage,”
– Mr. Grossi said.
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Situation in the Ukrainian energy sector
on March 22, 2024, Russia resumed its attacks on the Ukrainian energy sector, carrying out one of the most massive shelling operations in the entire period of the full-scale war. In particular, DniproHES and other Ukrainian energy facilities were hit. Since then, Russia has been regularly shelling Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
For example, the Russians destroyed the Trypillia and Zmiiv thermal power plants, causing Centrenergo to lose 100% of its generation. Also, 5 of DTEK’s 6 thermal power plants were severely damaged.
After that, power outages began again in Ukraine, Ukrenergo introduced blackout schedules, and the government raised electricity tariffs by 60% at once.
At the same time, the Cabinet of Ministers decided to build two new units at the Khmelnytsky N PP and has already received approval from the relevant parliamentary committee. The Razumkov Center has criticized these plans, but some experts believe that only traitors or scoundrels are against the construction of nuclear power plants today.
Russia launched another massive attack on the Ukrainian energy sector on August 26. This time, they hit distribution and power generation systems, and the Kyiv hydroelectric power plant was also attacked.
Russia carried out the most massive shelling of Ukraine on November 17, 2023, firing 127 cruise, ballistic, and supersonic missiles and 109 attack drones. DTEK reported serious damage to its thermal power plants. The situation in Odesa and Odesa region was the most difficult: on the night of July 18, the city was partially without electricity and water. Ukraine reintroduces power outage schedules on July 18
Some experts believe that the blackouts may last until spring. And the Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine recently voiced the worst-case scenario, which envisages blackouts of up to 20 hours a day.
