The situation at the Chernobyl nuclear plant has stabilized after a recent power outage caused by nearby Russian bombing. Ukrainian authorities reported that the power was restored, ensuring that operations at the site resumed normally.
Details of the Incident
On Wednesday, Russian drone strikes hit an electrical facility, cutting off power for over three hours. This outage raised concerns as it affected the containment structure over the highly radioactive reactor.
No Radioactive Leak Detected
- Ukrainian officials confirmed that no radioactive leakage occurred due to the incident.
- The Energy Ministry reported that all systems were functioning normally.
- Power was completely restored, and the site is operating under standard conditions.
Impact on Chernobyl’s Infrastructure
The power outage primarily impacted the new confinement structure covering the exploded reactor and the initial concrete sarcophagus. However, the old containment, connected to a separate power line, remained unaffected.
Storage Sites Unaffected
- The two nuclear waste storage sites, holding significant amounts of spent nuclear fuel, sustained power during the outage.
- No interruptions were reported for these critical facilities.
Historical Context
The Chernobyl plant is located approximately 100 kilometers north of Kyiv. It was the site of the worst nuclear disaster in history in 1986 and ceased operations in 2000. The Russian military initially occupied the plant during its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 but withdrew within weeks.
Security Concerns
In February, a Russian combat drone lightly damaged the new confinement structure, as reported by Kyiv officials. The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southern Ukraine, also under Russian control, has experienced multiple bombings without causing radioactive contamination.
