Russia threatens Khmelnytskyi NPP – Energoatom

Russian UAVs have created a real threat to the safety of the Khmelnytskyi NPP. In particular, on October 28, at about 6:00 a.m., a Russian Shahed flew critically close to one of the power units of this nuclear power plant.

This was reported by Energoatom. They noted:

• The enemy deliberately violates the principles of nuclear and radiation safety of nuclear power plants, "resorting to outright terrorism".
• Ukraine demands an adequate response and decisive actions from the international community to stop terrorist attacks on critical infrastructure facilities.

"With the onset of the autumn-winter period, the racists are intensifying the energy terror of Ukrainian NPPs, creating new risks for the safe operation of nuclear facilities... This must be stopped as soon as possible because the consequences can be felt by the entire continent," the statement said.

Earlier, Zaporizhzhia NPP was on the verge of blackout due to the actions of the Russian Federation. This happened because one of the two power lines connecting the temporarily occupied plant to the integrated power system of Ukraine was disconnected due to shelling.

In general, Russian attacks have recently targeted not only the occupied ZNPP but also nuclear power plants on the territory controlled by Ukraine. In particular, during the most massive Russian attack on the Ukrainian energy sector on August 26, 4 nuclear power units at Rivne and South Ukrainian power plants were disconnected from the grid.

According to Olha Kosharna, an independent expert on nuclear energy and nuclear safety, Russia hit peripheral transformers near the nuclear power plants. This caused fluctuations in the power system, which forced the NPP to shut down some of the units.

Kosharna explained that if the Russian Federation had hit the transformers of open switchgear, the power units would have shut down normally, in the regular emergency protection mode. But the Russians designed such units at one time and then hit the peripheral transformers, which, according to her, led to an emergency situation.

In this regard, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has expanded its monitoring mission in Ukraine. From September 2024, the agency's experts will monitor not only the situation at nuclear power plants but also at substations located near nuclear power plants. These facilities are critical for the operation of Ukrainian NPPs.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, earlier President Volodymyr Zelenskyy showed footage of the fire that the Russian occupiers had set at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. He called on the world to respond to the provocation of the terrorist state.

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