This week, the electricity production at three operational nuclear power plants in Ukraine – Khmelnytskyi, Rivne, and South Ukraine – has largely returned to normal after last week's military assaults on the energy sector. This was reported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
It is noted that almost all power units are now operating at full capacity, with only one unit running at reduced power. Furthermore, all high-voltage transmission lines that were lost during the attacks have been restored.
Following prolonged assaults on Ukraine's power grid, the IAEA is preparing to deploy a team to visit several critical substations crucial for nuclear safety.
The expert mission will assess the latest damages and their potential impact on nuclear plant operations. This will be the sixth such mission, according to IAEA officials.
At the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), IAEA staff present at the facility reported daily awareness of military activity, often very close to the plant. On some days, the team reported hearing explosions and gunfire approximately 20 times, and sometimes even more frequently.
Despite the regular sounds of military activity in the area, the IAEA team at ZNPP continues to conduct rounds to monitor and evaluate nuclear safety.
According to the IAEA, in recent days the team has conducted inspections of two turbine halls and radioactive waste storage facilities. They also observed the testing of the emergency diesel generator and discussed the situation regarding cooling water on-site, which is one of the most challenging issues for nuclear safety at ZNPP.
It is worth noting that the Ukrainian-controlled NPPs were forced to reduce their output on November 19 when Russian forces shelled energy facilities around the plants. In particular, Khmelnytskyi and Rivne NPPs had already decreased electricity production due to military actions earlier this month. On November 19, both plants further reduced production after losing connection with one of their high-voltage transmission lines. The South Ukraine NPP also lost connection with a high-voltage line and reported the detection of 11 drones overnight, a kilometer away from the facility.