Following the massive overnight combined attack by Russian forces on Ukraine on November 28, three Ukrainian nuclear power plants (NPPs) reduced electricity production on the morning of November 29. These include Khmelnytskyi, Rivne, and South Ukraine NPPs.
This was stated by the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi, according to the Agency's website.
The IAEA noted that this situation, following renewed Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, has further jeopardized nuclear safety amid the war.
According to Grossi, for the second time in less than two weeks, Khmelnytskyi, Rivne, and South Ukraine NPPs reduced their power output “as a precautionary step” during Russia’s massive attack using missiles and drones.
At the same time, air raid alarms sounded at all three facilities, he said. Moreover, Grossi added that two IAEA teams in Ukraine were forced to seek shelter during the air raid.
It was noted that all nine reactors at operational NPPs in Ukraine reduced their power output. Additionally, one reactor at Rivne NPP was disconnected from the grid. Meanwhile, the NPPs continued to receive external electricity, even though Khmelnytskyi NPP “lost connection to two of its power lines.”
"Ukraine’s energy infrastructure is extremely fragile and vulnerable, which places nuclear safety at great risk. I once again call for maximum military restraint in areas with major nuclear power facilities and other sites on which they depend," Grossi stressed.
Amid the massive Russian attack on November 28, there were no reports of direct damage to the NPPs. However, the Ukrainian side informed the IAEA that the strikes again impacted electrical substations used by the NPPs for transmitting and receiving electricity off-site.
These substations, identified by the IAEA as critical to nuclear safety, had been damaged in previous attacks, including in August, the Agency noted.
In September and October, IAEA teams inspected seven substations located outside NPPs across Ukraine to assess the situation following Russian strikes in August. At the time, “significant damage” was found.
As Grossi mentioned last week, IAEA representatives then concluded that the network’s ability to ensure reliable power supply to Ukraine outside the NPP sites “had been significantly degraded.”
"The IAEA will continue to assess the extent of damage to facilities and power lines critical to nuclear safety. The IAEA will do everything in its power to reduce the risk of a nuclear incident during this tragic war," the Agency's Director General stated on November 28.
NPPs need reliable grid connectivity both for distributing the electricity they produce and for receiving external power needed to cool reactors.
The IAEA emphasized that the growing “fragility of the power grid” has been one of the main nuclear safety issues throughout the conflict.
"The Director General has repeatedly stressed the importance of adhering to the seven indispensable pillars of nuclear safety, one of which states that all nuclear facilities must have secure off-site power supply from the grid," the IAEA added.
It should be noted that on the night and early morning of November 28, Russian forces launched a combined attack involving a total of 188 missiles and drones against Ukraine. The targets of the assault were Ukraine's energy facilities.
