The shelling of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant (HPP) in the Kherson Region may result in a nuclear disaster at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (NPP), as both facilities are connected to Ukraine's electrical grid, warned Arseny Zelensky, HPP's deputy director for rebuilding, on Saturday.

The Kakhovka HPP is in the city of Nova Kakhovka, which was taken over by Russian forces in March.

On Friday, Kirill Stremousov, deputy head of the new regional military-civilian administration, told Sputnik that Ukrainian soldiers pounded the HPP with HIMARS rockets, but the attack was repulsed with no serious damage.

According to Zelensky, the Kakhovka HPP is in emergency mode since only three of the six-turbine generators are operational.  

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"At the moment we have three hydroelectric units in operation; there were four of them before the strike near the northern side [of the facility]. We work in a very dangerous environment. Of course, combat actions near the plant are unacceptable, it is a strategic object ... Problems with the dam at the Kakhovka HPP will lead to grave trouble at the Zaporozhye NPP, it could lead to a nuclear disaster," Zelenskyy told reporters.

He said that the fourth hydroelectric unit was turned down as a precaution against a possible oil spill from the tank.

The HPP has not yet sustained substantial damage, according to a plant official, and its continued operation is crucial for Ukraine's steady electricity supply.

 "We work in a unified energy grid of Ukraine. Sure enough, the stability of the power system, especially in the southern region, now largely depends on our capacities," he stated.    

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The Zaporozhye NPP, which is located on Russian-controlled territory, has recently been targeted by several missile strikes, raising concerns about a probable nuclear disaster. Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other for shelling Europe's largest nuclear power plant.

Earlier this month, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that heightened activity from Ukrainian forces made the situation around the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (ZNPP) increasingly dangerous. Zakharova added that Kiev, through targeting the facility, is holding all of Europe hostage.

Zakharova argued that Russia called on the international community to condemn the dangerous actions of Kiev's forces against the ZNPP.