Three NPPs have not restored connection to all power lines after shelling on August 26

The Rivne, South Ukraine, and Chornobyl nuclear power plants (NPPs) have not yet fully restored their connection to external power lines. It was lost due to large-scale shelling on August 26. This was reported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Friday, September 6.

«IAEA teams from the Rivne, South Ukraine, and Chornobyl nuclear power plants reported that these facilities have not yet restored connection to all external power lines following large-scale military operations on August 26 targeting nuclear safety-critical substations. Teams also reported air raid alerts on most days last week», — the IAEA stated.

The agency did not specify the extent to which this situation affects the operation of the mentioned NPPs. However, the IAEA noted that on Wednesday, September 4, a drone flight was detected just a few kilometers from the Khmelnytsky nuclear power plant.

Additionally, according to the report, Ukraine will receive the necessary spare parts for emergency diesel generators at the South Ukraine NPP. The IAEA recently signed an agreement with France and Energoatom to support Ukrainian nuclear power plants. In the event of a loss of external power, nuclear power plants rely on such equipment to ensure safe and reliable operation.

The IAEA reported on August 29 that Russian shelling on August 26 disrupted the operation of two Ukrainian NPPs. At 8:58 a.m. on August 26, three power units at the Rivne NPP (Units 1, 3, and 4) were shut down. Later, at 5:05 p.m., a power unit at the South Ukraine NPP was shut down. This happened due to system fluctuations caused by the Russian attack.

As a reminder, on the morning of August 26, Russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine. They used kamikaze drones and various types of missiles. The occupiers primarily targeting energy infrastructure. Energy facilities in 15 regions were hit. In the Kyiv region alone, two power facilities were damaged. This includes the Kyiv hydroelectric power station. According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, some of these facilities were attacked with cluster munitions, which required de-mining before repairs could begin.