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Ukraine warns about the critical situation at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant

The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated on Tuesday that the situation at Zaporizhzhia's nuclear power plant, which is occupied by Russia, had reached a critical stage. Russian shelling prevented the restoration of the power necessary to cool down the reactors and avoid a meltdown.

Zelenskiy said in his video nightly address that one of the diesel-powered generators providing emergency electricity no longer worked seven days after external electrical lines were down.

"This is the seventh. Never before has there been an emergency at the Zaporizhzhia Plant. Situation is critical. Zelenskiy stated that the Russian shelling had cut off the plant from the electricity grid.

In the first weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant was taken by Russian troops. Both sides accuse each other of attacks which endanger the safety of nuclear power.

The plant does not produce electricity, but it needs power in order to keep the fuel cool and prevent a meltdown. The plant was disconnected for the 10th time since the beginning of the conflict.

"This is a danger to all." No terrorist has ever done with a nuclear plant what Russia does now. It is important that the world does not remain silent."

The Russian government has not responded to the latest reports on the conditions at the Zaporizhzhia Plant.

Rafael Grossi is the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the U.N. nuclear watchdog. He condemned the cutting off of external power lines, but he did not assign blame to any side.

Grossi has repeatedly urged both sides to maintain nuclear safety. IAEA monitors have been stationed at Zaporizhzhia as well as Ukraine's other three nuclear power plants. (Reporting and editing by Chris Reese, Lisa Shumaker and Oleksandr Kozoukhar)

(source: Reuters)