Ukraine has resumed power supply after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant was seized by Russian troops in February, Kyiv energy officials said on Sunday.
Power lines that were reportedly broken at the site were reportedly restored at: 18:38 CET by a repairman at Ukrenergo, a Ukrainian transmission system operator. This means that the external power supply to the plant can be resumed.
Ukrainian Energy Minister Germany Garushchenko said in statement National power grid experts were able to successfully restore the connection.
“Today, thanks to the incredible efforts of (Ukrainian energy) experts, our nuclear engineers and electricians are able to return power to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant seized by Russian occupants. It’s done, “said Gaslushchenko.
“Our Ukrainian energy engineers were able to avoid the risk of a nuclear disaster that could threaten Europe as a whole by endangering their health and life,” he added. ..
The power supply to Chernobyl is used to keep the pumps that keep thousands of spent nuclear fuels cool, thereby preventing radiation leaks.
Only days after the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Russian troops occupied Chernobyl, about 60 miles north of Kyiv along the Ukrainian-Belarus border.
Ukrainian officials Said The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had to use an emergency generator when power was cut off from the power plant on Wednesday.
Authorities said there was enough diesel fuel to run the on-site generator for 48 hours, but the IAEA warned of potential radiation leaks overnight by authorities, including Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. “There was no significant impact,” he said safely. ..
The 1986 nuclear accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant killed hundreds of people and spread radioactive clouds west across Europe.
Ukrainian government caveat It means that winds can move radioactive clouds across Ukraine, Russia, and other parts of Europe, similar to the previous Soviet disaster.
On March 10, Ukrainian authorities lost all communication with the power plant, state regulators notified IAEAThat means we couldn’t provide the IAEA with the latest information about the site.
The government said repairs were impossible due to ongoing conflicts over nuclear power plants.
However, Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Said On March 9, the site is operating normally and is a state-owned store jointly managed by Russian and Ukrainian experts.
Zakharova also said the Ukrainian government’s allegations about potential radiation threats were false.
“Russian troops’ actions in this dangerous situation were motivated by the need to prevent nuclear provocation from Ukrainian nationalists who seemed to have nothing to lose. In fact, they did it. That’s why the Russian army is in control of Ukraine’s nuclear facilities, “said Zahalowa.
IAEA Secretary-General Rafael Mariano Grossi Said On Sunday, a team of Ukrainian experts repaired one of the two damaged lines at the plant. This means that you will be able to supply your plant with all the off-site power you need.
However, Grossi expressed concern about the future safety of the plant and proposed a “framework” that would allow the IAEA to provide technical assistance to ensure the safe operation of the plant.
Mr Grossi said last week he had discussed the proposal with Ukrainian and Russian Foreign Ministers Dmytro Kuleba and Sergei Viklov.
“This is a positive development, as the Chernobyl nuclear power plant has had to rely on emergency diesel generators for several days,” said Grossi. “But I have serious concerns about the safety and security of Chernobyl and other nuclear facilities in Ukraine.”
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Katabella Roberts is a reporter currently based in Turkey. She focuses primarily on the United States and covers the news and business of The Epoch Times.