Another massive Russian shelling has put three Ukrainian nuclear power plants — Khmelnytskyi, Rivne, and Pivdennyukraine — at risk, forcing them to reduce electricity production, posing an additional risk to nuclear safety during the war.
This was stated by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.
On November 28, 2024, during a massive shelling, all nine reactors at three nuclear power plants reduced their power levels. In particular:
- Rivne NPP disconnected one of its reactors from the network.
- Khmelnytskyi NPP lost contact with two power lines.
This is the second power outage in less than two weeks, caused by airstrikes and damage to the electrical substations through which the stations transmit and receive power.
Ukrainian nuclear power plants require a stable connection to the power grid for two key functions:
- Distribution of generated electricity.
- Obtaining external energy for cooling reactors.
Damage to critical substations, identified by the IAEA as important for nuclear safety, complicates the operation of nuclear plants.
Rafael Grossi emphasized that such attacks by Russia not only affect Ukraine's energy sector, but also create a global threat, as accidents at nuclear power plants can have catastrophic consequences.
On November 28, Russia launched another massive attack, launching about 200 missiles and drones. The main targets were fuel and energy infrastructure. Ukrainian air defense forces shot down 79 missiles and 35 drones, but a significant part of the enemy achieved their goals.
Earlier, on November 17, after a similar attack, Ukrainian nuclear power plants had already reduced production. Repeated such attacks increase the pressure on the country's energy system.
The IAEA is calling for increased measures to protect and secure nuclear facilities in Ukraine. The situation demonstrates how important international monitoring and assistance are to prevent large-scale nuclear disasters.
