The Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, occupied by Russian forces, has "again lost connection" to the electricity grid. It was announced this Saturday by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), whose experts are on site.
The last line that was still in operation "has been damaged," explained the IAEA, recalling that the other three "had previously been lost during the conflict."
This incident has occurred "after new bombardments in the area", according to the information provided by the Ukrainian authorities to the UN body.
However, the IAEA has specified that the nuclear power plant continues to supply electricity to the network "through the reserve line".
On August 25, the Zaporizhia plant, the largest in Europe, was completely disconnected from the Ukrainian grid for the first time in its history, before being reconnected.
The situation at the plant worries many international leaders. The two belligerents accuse each other of having carried out the bombings and of running the risk of unleashing a nuclear catastrophe.
The UN nuclear police is now informed almost in real time thanks to its team that arrived this week with Director General Rafael Grossi, "very concerned" about the risk of a major nuclear accident.
Grossi left after a few hours, but six experts remain on the scene, two of whom will remain "continuously", a presence "of great importance to help stabilize the situation", according to the IAEA chief.
After inspecting the facilities, Rafael Grossi said he found that the "physical integrity" of the plant had been "violated on several occasions", denouncing an "unacceptable" situation.
However, he did not name the responsible party, while the Russians and Ukrainians have been accusing each other for weeks of bombing the site.
This new announcement comes as Ukraine said yesterday, Friday, that it had attacked a Russian base in Energodar, not far from the Zaporizhia plant.
