“Khmelnytskyi, Rivne, and South Ukrainian NPPs reduced their power levels as a precautionary measure”, — write: www.radiosvoboda.org
For the second time in less than two weeks, the Khmelnytskyi, Rivne and Southern Ukrainian nuclear power plants have reduced their power levels as a precaution amid the country’s wide-scale military operations, while three facilities have sounded air-raid alarms, Director General Grossi said.
The statement states that there are a total of nine reactors at operational nuclear power plants, and all of them have reduced capacity. One reactor, at the Rivne NPP, was also disconnected from the network. The NPPs continued to receive electricity from the outside, despite the fact that the Khmelnytsky NPP lost connection with two power transmission lines.
“Ukraine’s energy infrastructure is extremely fragile and vulnerable, which puts nuclear safety at great risk. I once again call for maximum military restraint in the areas where the main nuclear power facilities and other facilities on which they depend are located,” said Director General Grossi.
There were no reports of direct damage to the nuclear power plant, but the IAEA was informed by Ukraine that the strikes once again affected electrical substations, which the plants use to both transmit and receive electricity off-site.
The Armed Forces previously reported the downing of 76 (out of 85 launched) Kh-101/Kalibr cruise missiles, three Kh-59/69 guided air missiles and 35 Shahed-type attack UAVs and unmanned aerial vehicles of an unspecified type, and 62 drones were “lost in location” . In total, Russia attacked 188 means of air attack.
According to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as a result of the Russian attack, there were 12 hits, mainly on the objects of the fuel and energy sector.
There are three nuclear power plants operating in Ukraine: Rivne Nuclear Power Plant (4 power units), South Ukrainian Nuclear Power Plant (3 power units) and Khmelnytsky Nuclear Power Plant (2 power units). The Zaporizhia nuclear power plant has been occupied by the Russian military since 2022.
According to the Ministry of Energy, since October 2022, Russia has carried out more than a thousand strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure facilities, this year alone 9 GW of generating capacity was lost due to strikes.