The International Atomic Energy Agency, whose experts are at the site, announced in a statement on Saturday that the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is occupied by Russian forces, “has again lost contact” with the power grid.
• Read also: Ukraine says it targeted a Russian base near the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant
• Read also: Ukraine: IAEA says “physical integrity” of occupied nuclear power plant “violated”
The International Atomic Energy Agency explained that the last line still in operation was “damaged,” noting that the other three lines were “previously lost during the conflict.”
This incident occurred “after new explosions in the region,” according to information provided by the Ukrainian authorities to the United Nations.
However, the site continues to function “thanks to the helpline,” the IAEA specifies.
Already on August 25, the plant, the largest in Europe, was completely disconnected from the Ukrainian network for the first time in its history, before being reconnected.
The situation of the power plant in Zaporizhia (south) worries many international leaders. The two sides accuse each other of carrying out bombing operations targeting its site, and of risking a nuclear disaster.
The UN nuclear police is now being informed in almost real time thanks to his team that arrived this week with Director-General Rafael Grossi, “extremely concerned” about the risk of a major nuclear accident.
If Mr Grossi leaves after a few hours, six experts will remain at the site, two of whom will remain “on a continuous basis”, a presence “of great importance to help stabilize the situation,” according to the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
After inspecting the facilities, Mr Grossi said he found the plant’s “physical integrity” was “violated several times”, denouncing the “unacceptable” situation.
However, he did not name the responsible party, while for weeks the Russians and Ukrainians have accused each other of bombing the site.
This announcement comes at a time when Ukraine said, on Friday, that it targeted a Russian base in Energodar (south), close to the power station.
