ZNPP switches to blackout mode for 7th time due to Russia's shelling

As a result of Russia's shelling on the night of May 22, the last high-voltage transmission line, the 750kV Dniprovska, which supplied power to Zaporizhzhia NPP (ZNPP), was disconnected.

According to Ukrinform, Ukraine's nuclear energy generating company Energoatom reported this on Telegram.

"As a result of Russia's senseless terrorist attack on the night of May 22, at 5:26 a.m., the last high-voltage transmission line, Dniprovska 750kV, was disconnected. The temporarily occupied ZNPP was powered from it. For the seventh time since the start of the Ukrainian station's occupation by Russian terrorists (March 4, 2022), ZNPP is in blackout mode," the statement said.

It is noted that after the loss of external power, which is vital to ensure the cooling pumps’ operation for the power units' nuclear material, all diesel generators of the NPP were automatically turned on. The fuel supply will last for ten days. The countdown has begun.

If it is impossible to restore external power to the plant during this time, an accident with radiation consequences for the whole world may occur.

The continued occupation of ZNPP by Russia is keeping the plant on the verge of a nuclear and radiation accident. Russia's nuclear terrorism "must stop immediately, and the invaders must leave the territory of the plant and the satellite city of Enerhodar," the statement reads.

"The actions of the entire international community are urgently needed to withdraw Russian terrorist groups from ZNPP’s territory. The plant should be transferred to the competent legitimate operator, the Ukrainian Energoatom. The conditions for maintaining the plant’s nuclear, radiation, and physical safety are to be restored," the company added.

As reported, there are explosives in almost all turbine halls of ZNPP. Russians have turned the plant into an arms depot.

Since March 4, ZNPP, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, has been seized by Russian military. Since then, the invaders have been deploying military equipment and ammunition on the plant site and shelling the surrounding area.