Power supply to Chornobyl NPP restored

Ukrenergo specialists restored electricity supply to the Chornobyl nuclear power plant on Sunday, March 13.

According to Ukrinform, Minister of Energy of Ukraine German Galushchenko said this on Facebook.

"Today, thanks to the incredible efforts of Ukrenergo experts, our nuclear specialists and electricians we managed to restore power supply to the Chornobyl nuclear power plant, which was seized by the Russian occupiers," he wrote.

Galushchenko stressed that Ukrainian specialists, risking their own health and lives, were able to avert the risk of a possible nuclear catastrophe that posed a threat to the whole of Europe.

According to the minister, now the cooling systems of spent nuclear fuel assemblies will operate normally again, not from backup power.

Galushchenko stressed that the Chornobyl nuclear power plant is a Ukrainian energy facility, and Ukraine does not need any help from anyone to provide or restore electricity supply to Ukrainian facilities.

"Yes, our energy specialists are really heroes, but it is impossible to ensure nuclear security in the conditions of military aggression. That is why I once again appeal to our international partners, the European Commission, IAEA, UN, OSCE: help us protect nuclear facilities! Now it is extremely necessary to make the enemy leave the nuclear power plant and establish a 30-kilometer demilitarized zone around Ukraine's nuclear power facilities," Galushchenko said.

Chornobyl NPP was captured by Russian troops on February 24. The plant has been under the control of the Russian army since March 4. At a meeting with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi on March 10, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba insisted that Russia immediately withdraw its troops from the Chornobyl and Zaporizhia nuclear power plants in order to prevent a nuclear catastrophe in Europe.

There has been no electricity supply to the Chornobyl nuclear power plant since March 9.