Ukraine has warned that power lines to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant have been damaged – with reserve generators only capable of running for two days.
The country’s foreign minister is calling for an urgent ceasefire in the area to allow for repairs to the power line.
Dmytro Kuleba said the facility will begin leaking radiation as soon as the reserve power runs out.
Chernobyl
The decommissioned power plant, the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster in April 1986, has been under the control of Russian forces since last week.
“The only electrical grid supplying the Chornobyl NPP and all its nuclear facilities occupied by Russian army is damaged,” he wrote on Twitter.
“CNPP has lost all electric supply. I call on the international community to urgently demand Russia to cease fire and allow repair units to restore power supply.
“Reserve diesel generators have a 48-hour capacity to power the Chornobyl NPP.
“After that, cooling systems of the storage facility for spent nuclear fuel will stop, making radiation leaks imminent. Putin’s barbaric war puts entire Europe in danger. He must stop it immediately.”
Reserve diesel generators have a 48-hour capacity to power the Chornobyl NPP. After that, cooling systems of the storage facility for spent nuclear fuel will stop, making radiation leaks imminent. Putin’s barbaric war puts entire Europe in danger. He must stop it immediately! 2/2
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) March 9, 2022
It remains unclear what caused the damage to the powerline.
Ukrainian grid operator Ukrenerho warned that, without power, the "parameters of nuclear and radiation safety" cannot be controlled.
Yesterday, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned that it was no longer receiving safety data from Chernobyl.
It said Ukraine had warned it that 210 technical personnel working on the site had not been rotated out of work since Russian forces took control almost two weeks ago.
The agency said said the workers had access to food, water and medicine – but the situation was worsening.
"Deeply concerned"
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said regular rest and shift changes are crucial for overall nuclear safety.
“I’m deeply concerned about the difficult and stressful situation facing staff at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant and the potential risks this entails for nuclear safety,” he said.
“I call on the forces in effective control of the site to urgently facilitate the safe rotation of personnel there,” he said.
