Energoatom: Direct contact with Zaporizhzhia NPP currently lost

"The invaders entered the territory of the nuclear power plant, took control of personnel and management. Currently, there is no connection and the station management works at gunpoint," Petro Kotin, President of Energoatom, National Nuclear Energy Generating Company of Ukraine, said during the round-the-clock news marathon of leading Ukrainian TV channels.

As Kotin learnt from his sources, the invaders allowed ZNPP personnel to work in the morning

According to the Energoatom president, nuclear fuel is stored in every power unit of the station. In addition, the station has spent fuel. "If a shell hits, this will lead to a nuclear disaster," Kotin warned.

He said that since the beginning of the shelling, the ZNPP power units were started to be switched into a safe mode. According to Kotin, the Ukrainian power system will now be able to cope with the load even if ZNPP is completely disconnected from the grid.

As reported, on the night of March 4, Russian troops attacked the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Power Unit 1 was hit, a fire broke out in the administrative building.

As of the morning of March 4, the ZNPP site was seized by Russian troops. The radiation background is within natural values.

Energoatom issued a statement to the world community warning that the shelling was "a violation of the nuclear and radiation safety of Europe's largest nuclear facility, which could have serious and tragic consequences for the entire world."

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