Volodymyr Kudrytskyi (CEO of Ukrenergo) explains about situation on Chornobyl NPP (see also a video here):
“Today, as a result of the hostile actions of the Russian aggressor, the Chornobyl nuclear power plant was completely de-energised.
In recent days, it has been powered through only one line as the other two high-voltage lines were disabled by the occupiers during the first days of the invasion. Taking into account the status of the Chornobyl zone and the presence of nuclear facilities, we have repeatedly negotiated with the occupiers to perform repair works to ensure the security of the entire continent.
It happened only once that we received consent from the Russian invaders, and our repair team went through enemy checkpoints to inspect the damage. However, this all ended in brutal searches, shootings over the heads of our employees and threats of execution – they were not allowed to start repair works.
And today we have a result – the Chornobyl nuclear power plant is completely de-energised. As far as we currently know, a large number of utilised fuel assemblies are stored at the nuclear fuel storage facility.
Without a working cooling system, they will cause significant damage to the environment due to increased radiation background. Neither a cooling system nor a firefighting system will work at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant without electricity. Restoration of power lines that supply this critical and hugely dangerous facility is an issue of urgent importance.”
State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine reports:
“750 kV ChNPP – Kyiv high-voltage line is currently disconnected due to the damage caused by the occupiers. As a result, the Chernobyl station and all nuclear facilities in the Exclusion Zone are without electricity.
About 20,000 spent fuel assemblies are stored in the spent nuclear fuel storage facility-1. They need constant cooling. Which is possible only if there is electricity. If it is not there, the pumps will not cool. As a result, the temperature in the holding pools will increase.
After that, evaporation will occur, which will lead to nuclear discharge. The wind can transfer the radioactive cloud to other regions of Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and Europe. In addition, there is no ventilation inside the facility.
All personnel there will receive a dangerous dose of radiation. The fire extinguishing system also does not work, and this is a huge risk of fire caused by shelling. The fight still goes on, making it impossible to carry out repairs and restore power.”
IAEA says that development violates key safety pillar on ensuring uninterrupted power supply. However, in this case IAEA sees no critical impact on safety yet.