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Ukraine conflict – day 379: Nuclear plant without power after Russian strikes - 'We are rolling dice'
CGTN
Rescuers work on residential buildings in Lviv after the missile strike. /State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Reuters
Rescuers work on residential buildings in Lviv after the missile strike. /State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Reuters

Rescuers work on residential buildings in Lviv after the missile strike. /State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Reuters

TOP HEADLINES

· The Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine has lost all external power supply and is relying on diesel generators, following a wave of missile attacks from Russia. READ MORE BELOW

· Russia fired 81 missiles, including six Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, and eight drones at Ukraine in the early-morning strikes, the Ukrainian air force said. Ukraine destroyed 34 cruise missiles, four Shahed suicide drones and guided missiles.

· Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attacks and said Moscow "won't avoid responsibility."

· The Kremlin doubts the attacks on the Nord Stream pipelines could have been carried out without state support, after the New York Times reported a pro-Ukrainian non-government group might have been responsible for the blasts.

· The Kremlin said there were still "a lot of questions" remaining over the Black Sea grain deal, and that there were currently no plans for a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

· Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in a press conference with his Saudi counterpart that Saudi Arabia and other countries had facilitated prisoner of war swaps with Ukraine.

· Poland said it had delivered to Ukraine the additional 10 Leopard 2A4 tanks it had promised, while allies would send theirs shortly.

· Slovakia must make a decision on sending its MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, its defense minister said.

· Ukraine will take part in European Union countries' scheme to jointly buy gas, the bloc's energy policy chief said.

02:28

IN DETAIL

Nuclear power plant loses power after Russian missile attacks

Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been left without electricity supply following Russian missile strikes and is running on diesel generators.

The disruption came during a fresh wave of Russian missiles that hit at least 10 regions out of 27 across Ukraine, killing at least nine people and led to power outages across the country.

The operator said it was the sixth time that the facility had been disconnected from the electricity grid since Russian forces captured the plant last year.

Russia fired 81 missiles, including six Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, and eight drones at Ukraine in early-morning strikes on Thursday, the Ukrainian air force said.

Ukraine destroyed 34 cruise missiles and four Shahed suicide drones, and eight drones.

People shelter inside a Kyiv subway station. /Alina Yarysh/Reuters
People shelter inside a Kyiv subway station. /Alina Yarysh/Reuters

People shelter inside a Kyiv subway station. /Alina Yarysh/Reuters

Russia-installed officials in the Moscow-controlled part of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region said the halt in electricity supplies to the nuclear power station from Ukrainian-held territory was "a provocation."

The Energoatom state company warned: "The countdown has begun. If it is impossible to renew the external power supply of the station during this time, an accident with radiation consequences for the whole world may occur."

The UN nuclear agency's chief also expressed grave concern over repeated power outages at the power plant.

"Each time we are rolling a dice," said IAEA atomic agency chief Rafael Grossi. "If we allow this to continue time after time then one day our luck will run out."

Russian authorities controlling the plant said there were enough fuel reserves to ensure the operation of generators, adding that all safety and security issues at the plant were in order. 

Moscow's troops secured the plant on March 4, 2022, just days after the start of the conflict. Moscow and Kyiv have accused each other of shelling around Zaporizhzhia, the biggest nuclear facility in Europe.

The UN's nuclear agency IAEA deployed observers to the plant in September and is seeking to negotiate a demilitarised zone near the facility, but talks appear to have stalled.

 

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Source(s): Reuters ,AFP

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