Ukraine's giant nuclear plant goes dark after fire and shelling attack

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Europe’s biggest nuclear power plant had to be entirely disconnected from the grid for the first time ever amid ongoing fighting.

Shelling has intensified around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in contested southern Ukraine in recent weeks.

Both sides in the conflict have accused the other of risking a major nuclear disaster at the plant, which has fallen under control of the Russian forces.

There is evidence Kremlin troops are using it as a base to launch attacks from and a shield to hide behind, knowing the risks associated with Ukrainian forces returning fire gives them cover.

Global internet monitoring group Netblocks says communication signals coming from the site appear to have been shut off completely.

It comes after it was reported fire damage to overhead power lines caused the remaining two operating reactors to be disconnected from the Ukrainian grid.

Energatom, the Ukraine state company whose staff are being held at the plant and forced to operate it, confirmed parts of the plant had been shut down today.

In a statement on Telegram, the company said ‘the actions of the invaders’ triggered a fire in ash dumps near the main station and ’caused a complete disconnection of the ZNPP from the power grid – for the first time in the history of the plant’.

It continued: ‘There are currently no comments on the operation of automation and safety systems. Start-up operations are underway to connect one of the power units to the grid.’

Russian media blamed Ukrainian forces for the fire and said the disconnection had caused temporary blackouts in the surrounding area and Kherson.

⚠️ Confirmed: Metrics show a major disruption to communications at #Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, #Ukraine, amid Russian hostilities.

The NPP has been completely disconnected from the grid for the first time in history per Energoatom.

📰 Background: https://t.co/2L7yAznx6a pic.twitter.com/d7AGIc3Hf3

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