Ukraine fears Russian plan to cut power from captured nuclear plant

Ukraine’s state nuclear power firm has said it fears that Russia plans to switch off the functioning power units at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which in normal times provides about one-fifth of the country’s electricity.

If the plant stopped generating electricity, its technicians would have to rely on backup power systems to continue cooling the nuclear reactors, which may raise the risk of accidents.

“The Russian military is looking for suppliers of fuel for diesel generators, which must be turned on after the shutdown of power units and in the absence of external power supply for nuclear-fuel cooling systems,” Energoatom said in a statement.

Ukrainian military intelligence had warned earlier this week that Moscow appeared to be planning a “provocation” at the plant. It has controlled the site since March and stationed troops and military equipment there, leading to urgent calls for it to be demilitarised, including from the UN and Nato.

Even if the reactors remain intact, however, Russia may plan to weaponise the plant simply by disconnecting it. With winter approaching, and Ukraine already concerned about gas supplies, the loss of an important source of electricity could be damaging to the economy and people’s ability to stay warm.

READ ALSO:

• I Will Lead Nigeria Out Of Darkness – Atiku
• Messi won Ballon d’Or four times at your age, Rooney slams ‘arrogant’ Mbappe
• NBC suspends licences of AIT, Ray Power, Silverbird, Rythm FM over 2.6bn debt

On Friday, while the UN secretary general, António Guterres, visited the Black Sea port city of Odesa, Russia reportedly closed the Zaporizhzhia site to most personnel, apart from those operating the power units, Energoatom said. Although Russians control the site, it is still run by Ukrainians.

Energoatom also accused Russia of shelling parts of the plant complex, in false flag attacks that Moscow blamed on Ukrainian forces.

“Once again, we call on the international community to take all necessary measures as soon as possible for the de-occupation of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, because the nuclear and radiation safety of all mankind is at stake!” it said.

Fighting around the plant, and Russian management of the site, have become a focus of intense international concern.

The Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood, who chairs the House of Commons defence select committee, warned on Friday that a nuclear accident at the site risked drawing Nato into the war.

“Let’s make it clear now: ANY deliberate damage causing potential radiation leak to a Ukrainian nuclear reactor would be a breach of Nato’s Article 5,” he said on Twitter.

Guterres, at a news conference on Thursday with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said: “The facility must not be used as part of any military operation. Instead, agreement is urgently needed to re-establish Zaporizhzhia’s purely civilian infrastructure and to ensure the safety of the area.”

Zelenskiy said he agreed with Guterres on a framework for a visit by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to inspect the site. “We agreed with the secretary general the conditions of a possible mission by the IAEA to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, in a legal way, via territory free from occupiers,” Zelenskiy told reporters.