Islamabad: Monitoring Desk – As a result of the Russian missile attacks on March, 9, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is completely de-energized. The last overhead transmission line connecting the Zaporizhzhia NPP and the Ukrainian energy system was disconnected. The facility has switched to “blackout” mode. The largest nuclear power plant in Europe has experienced six complete blackouts since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Russia is once again provoking a large-scale nuclear disaster, the consequences of which will threaten the health and lives of more than a billion people: units 5 and 6 are being put into cold shutdown, and 18 diesel generators have started operating to supply the plant’s in-house loads. There is 10 days’ fuel stock left for their operation. If the off-site power supply to the plant cannot be connected to the energy system of Ukraine within that time frame, an accident may occur, having severe radiation consequences for Europe.
Russia’s actions are not a bluff, but a direct threat to Europe. Russia has realized that it is losing: Western weapons help to defeat its army. Putin is holding occupied territories in eastern Ukraine with the help of covert mobilization and the transfer of huge human resources to the war zone. However, even against the background of the current failure, he is not ready to retreat.
