The Khmelnitsky NPP has disconnected from the mains through rocket attacks of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in Ukraine - IAEA

The Khmelnytsky Nuclear Power Plant was immediately transferred to diesel generators. Rivne NPPs were also injured - 1 out of 4 of its power units automatically switched off. On November 15, the Khmelnytsky Nuclear Power Plant (KhNPP) lost access to the power grid through Russian missile attacks in Ukraine. This is stated in the statement of the Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) by Raphael Grossi.

The Khmelnytsky NPP temporarily switched to power at the expense of diesel generators. The KhNPP was disconnected from the network at 18:35 local time on November 15. "Four operating lines at the facility gradually switched off within 2. 5 hours due to rocket strokes on the energy infrastructure of Ukraine. During this period, 2 reactors of the station stopped, the power supply of buildings, factories and other objects stopped," Grossi emphasized.

More than 9 hours passed and at 03:45 the power plant restored the external power supply to two 330 kilovolt (KV) power lines. The generators were stopped afterwards. After 1 hour, one of these lines turned off again, it was restored by 11:25. Two reactor blocks remained in power off mode. According to the IAEA, in the afternoon of November 15, the Rivne NPP (RAES) lost its connection with one of its power lines 750 square meters. RAES reduced power, 1 of its 4 blocks automatically switched off.

On Wednesday, November 16, at 04:00 the station increased the capacity of another block to continue electricity supply. According to the IAEA director, it was a very alarming event. "Nuclear and safety situation in Ukraine can suddenly worsen, increasing the risk of nuclear emergency," Grossi said. The disconnection of electricity at the KhNPP occurred a day after the decision of the IAEA to send nuclear safety missions to the KhPP, RAPS, South Ukrainian NPP and Chernobyl, he said.

"We will be at these nuclear power plants in the near future within the framework of our constant assistance to Ukraine in its efforts to support nuclear safety and prevent nuclear accident during the conflict," Grossi said. The IAEA has a group of experts who are constantly on the ZPP, he said. We will remind that the "head" of the occupation administration of Zaporizhzhia region Yevgeny Balytsky in September threatened to fire the Kalibar Khmelnitsky and Rivne NPP missiles.