Ukraine’s nuclear safety at risk as NPPs reduce power production after Russian attacks on energy infrastructure – IAEA

Following new Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, the country's three operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) have reduced electricity production, further jeopardizing nuclear safety during the war.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stated this.

"For a second time in less than two weeks, the Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine NPPs lowered their power levels as a precautionary step during widespread military activities in the country," Grossi noted.

It is noted that the power was reduced at nine reactors operating at these plants.

In addition, one reactor at the Rivne NPP was disconnected from the grid.

The NPPs continued to receive electricity from outside even though the Khmelnytskyi NPP lost contact with two power transmission lines.

"Ukraine's energy infrastructure is extremely fragile and vulnerable, putting nuclear safety at great risk.

Once again, I call for maximum military restraint in areas with major nuclear energy facilities and other sites on which they depend," the IAEA Director General stressed.

He noted that the IAEA will continue to assess the extent of damage to facilities and power lines that are important for nuclear safety.

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Since the evening of November 27, the Russian Federation has been trying to attack Kyiv and several other regions of Ukraine with strike drones.

On the morning of November 28, explosions thundered in Kyiv, Odesa, Lutsk, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Khmelnytskyi, Vinnytsia, and Rivne regions.

Ukrainian energy facilities were hit. In particular, strikes were recorded on the infrastructure of Shostka, Sumy region. The following were left without electricity:

• over 280 thousand subscribers in the Rivne region,
• 215 thousand – in the Volyn region,
• 523 thousand – in the Lviv region.

As a result of the massive shelling of Ukraine, damage was recorded in 14 regions. Infrastructure, houses, and cars were hit.

As of 10:30 on Thursday, November 28, air defense forces shot down 76 cruise and three guided aircraft missiles, as well as 35 drones, with which the Russians had been attacking Ukraine since the evening.