ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine — The head of the U.N. nuclear guarddog stated Saturday that the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine was detached to its last external power line however was still able to run electricalpower through a reserve line inthemiddleof continual shelling in the location.
International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Grossi stated in a declaration that the firm’s specialists, who gothere at Zaporizhzhia on Thursday, were informed by senior Ukrainian personnel that the 4th and last functional line was down. The 3 others were lost earlier throughout the dispute.
But the IAEA professionals discovered that the reserve line connecting the center to a close-by thermal power plant was providing the electricalenergy the plant produces to the external grid, the declaration stated. The verysame reserve line can likewise supply backup power to the plant if required, it included.
“We currently have a muchbetter understanding of the performance of the reserve power line in linking the center to the grid,” Grossi stated. “This is essential details in examining the general scenario there.”
In addition, the plant’s management notified the IAEA that one reactor was detached Saturday afternoon duetothefactthat of grid constraints. Another reactor is still operating and producing electricalpower both for cooling and other important security functions at the website and for families, factories and others through the grid, the declaration stated.
The Zaporizhzhia center, which is Europe’s biggest nuclear plant, hasactually been held by Russian forces because early March, however its Ukrainian personnel are continuing to run it.
The Russian-appointed city administration in Enerhodar, where the Zaporizhzhia plant is situated, blamed an declared Ukrainian shelling attack on Saturday earlymorning for damaging a secret power line.
“The arrangement of electricalpower to the areas regulated by Ukraine hasactually been suspended due to technical troubles,” the local administration stated in a post on its authorities Telegram channel. It wasn’t clear whether electricalpower from the plant was still reaching Russian-held locations.
Vladimir Rogov, a member of the Kremlin-appointed local administration stated on Telegram that a shell had struck an location inbetween 2 reactors. His declares couldn’t be instantly confirmed.
Over the past anumberof weeks, Ukraine and Russia haveactually traded blame over shelling at and near the plant, while a