Ukrenergo reports that the Chernobyl nuclear power plant was completely cut off due to the actions of the Russian military.

“The fighting continues. This currently makes it impossible to repair and restore power. The city of Slavutych is also without electricity. “Ukrenergo will monitor the situation and inform about all changes,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, Energoatom explained that the 750 kV Chernobyl-Kyiv high-voltage line is currently shut down due to damage by Russian troops. As a result, the Chernobyl station and all nuclear facilities in the Exclusion Zone were left without electricity.

“About 20,000 spent fuel assemblies are stored at the spent nuclear fuel storage facility – 1. They need constant cooling, which is possible only in the presence of electricity. If it is not there, the pumps will not cool. As a result, the temperature in the holding pools will increase, soaring, and release of radioactive substances into the environment will occur. The wind can transfer the radioactive cloud to other regions of Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, and Europe,” – Energoatom said.

In addition, the facility will not be ventilated, and all personnel present will receive a dangerous dose of radiation.

“The fire extinguishing system is also not working, and this is a huge risk in the event of a fire that could occur due to a projectile,” Energoatom said.

Earlier, the IAEA said the Chernobyl nuclear power plant seized by the Russian military last month was no longer transmitting data to the International Atomic Energy Agency, and expressed concern over personnel working at the Ukrainian facility.

IAEA President Rafael Grossi said that due to the capture of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant by Russian troops, about 210 employees of the station are still at the nuclear power plant, limited access to food, water and medicine.

“I am deeply concerned about the difficult and stressful situation facing the staff of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and the potential risks it poses to nuclear safety. I call on the forces controlling the facility to urgently facilitate the safe rotation of staff”, – Grossi said.

The Russian army has taken control of two nuclear facilities – the Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plants.

The IAEA has set up a 24-hour crisis center to monitor the situation at Ukraine’s nuclear power plants.

Source: https://www.radiosvoboda.org/