The Ukrainian authorities confirmed Friday to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that their four nuclear power plants have been able to reconnect to the general grid after the wave of Russian attacks that even caused a «massive blackout» in neighboring Moldova.
In a statement, the agency noted that the Zaporiyia nuclear plant reported on Thursday that the external connection to the facility had been restored, while on Friday Ukraine also informed the IAEA that the other three facilities – Rivne, South Ukraine and Khmelnitsky – are now connected to the grid.
All four Ukrainian nuclear power plants were disconnected from the grid as a result of the wave of shelling launched on Wednesday by the Russian Armed Forces, according to the Ukrainian operator, which warned that the Zaporiyia plant was operating with diesel generators.
Energoatom reported on its Telegam account that, due to a decrease in power, emergency mode was activated at the Khmelnitsky, Rivne and South Ukraine plants, which total nine reactors. All of them are controlled by the Ukrainian authorities.
The Zaporiyia plant, with six reactors and taken over by Russian forces in early March, went straight into «total shutdown». IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi met Wednesday with a Russian delegation to discuss the possible creation of a «protection zone» around the Zaporiyia nuclear power plant, considered the largest in Europe.
