Zaporozhye NPP's only remaining power unit switched off
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After numerous warnings for the cessation of the shellings, the ZNPP's last functioning power unit is now turned off, cutting off all power to the region.
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Zaporozhye NPP (AP)
Member of the main council of the Zaporozhye region administration, Vladimir Rogov, told Sputnik that the last operating power unit of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (ZNPP) has been shut down, adding that "over the last few days, the only operating power unit, the sixth, has been operating at its minimum capacity. It was shut down at night, at 3:45 a.m. [00:45 GMT]. It is not generating electricity now".
Just yesterday, Rogov stated that Kiev authorities announced that they unanimously stopped accepting electricity supplies from ZNPP, which is located on the left bank of the Dnieper River and is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe in terms of the number of units and output. Regional authorities, such as the Energodar authorities, earlier prioritized plans to shut down the nuclear facility due to the repeated Ukrainian shelling.
According to Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, 29 strikes on the Zaporozhye complex have taken place since July 18, including 120 artillery shells and 16 kamikaze drones.
Authorities reported in a statement that a total of seven shells had hit the area of a training building on the power plant's premises, one of which had caused a leak of fuel oil from a tank at a water delivery line at the ZNPP, but maintained its function at the lowest possible capacity, with only one power unit out of six operating within 12-15% of the plant's maximum output.
The ZNPP fell under the control of Russian forces after the start of the war and has been targeted frequently by artillery shells from the Ukrainian forces, raising international concerns over a possible nuclear accident.
On September 1, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) sent a 14-person team to the site, including its Director General Rafael Grossi, to assess the situation at the plant. At least two members of the team were to remain there on a permanent basis to ensure the facility's safety. The IAEA said Saturday the plant had been disconnected from its last remaining main power line to the grid and was relying on a reserve line.
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