War in Ukraine: Zaporizhia nuclear plant: Another emergency shutdown after shelling

At the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, which is occupied by Russia, all the reactors have again been shut down as a result of shelling.

War in Ukraine: Zaporizhia nuclear plant: Another emergency shutdown after shelling

At the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, which is occupied by Russia, all the reactors have again been shut down as a result of shelling. A high-voltage line had been switched off because of a fire, the Ukrainian nuclear power plant operator Enerhoatom announced on its Telegram channel on Monday. This led to the emergency shutdown of the last unit in operation.

Block five had already been shut down on Saturday. Within the past three days, all five high-voltage lines to the nuclear power plant and the nearby thermal power plant had been damaged by artillery fire, it said. There is no longer a connection to the Ukrainian power grid.

A week and a half ago, on August 25, there was also an emergency shutdown of the two reactors in operation, followed by a power failure in the occupied southern Ukrainian territories.

hardened fronts

Enerhoatom had previously complained on the Telegram news channel that Russia had stationed military, weapons and ammunition at the site. Ukraine called for international help to persuade Russian troops to withdraw. Russia denies having heavy weapons there and also refuses to return the nuclear power plant because Ukraine cannot guarantee its safety.

The nuclear power plant was captured shortly after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early March. Two experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are currently in the power plant to monitor the security situation. Artillery fire on the power plant site, which has been increasing for weeks, has increased international fears of a nuclear catastrophe. Moscow and Kyiv accuse each other of shelling the power plant site and the surrounding area.

Macron demands withdrawal of Russian troops

French President Emmanuel Macron is currently campaigning for the withdrawal of Russian troops from the nuclear power plant. This was announced by the Élysée Palace on Monday after Macron called his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Macron emphasized that Ukrainian sovereignty over the power plant must be respected. The safety of the power plant can only be ensured if the Russian troops withdraw.

According to the palace, Macron inquired about Ukraine's military and economic needs and continued to pledge France's full support to the war-torn country.

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