Russian-held nuclear plant disconnects from Ukraine grid for first time – Energoatom

Reuters:

KYIV, Aug 25 – Ukraine’s Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was completely disconnected from the Ukrainian grid for the first time ever on Thursday after nearby fires interfered with power lines, state nuclear company Energoatom said.

It said that fires broke out in the ash pits of a coal power station near the Zaporizhzhia reactor complex – Europe’s largest nuclear facility – and interfered with power lines connecting the plant to the grid.

“As a result, the station’s two working power units were disconnected from the network,” Energoatom said in a statement.

“Thus, the actions of the invaders caused a complete disconnection of the (nuclear power plant) from the power grid – the first in the history of the plant,” it said.

The vast nuclear power plant supplied more than 20% of Ukraine’s electricity needs and its loss would pile new strain on the government, which is already bracing for a difficult wartime winter of potentially crippling energy shortages.