Zaporizhzhia NPP and the Enerhodar city are under the control of Russian military units for more than two weeks.
The current state of the power units remains unchanged: two units are in operation; two units are under repair (units 1 and 6); the rest are in the shutdown mode.
Three of the four 750 kV high-voltage lines (Zaporizhzhia, South Donbas, and Kakhovka) were damaged due to hostilities in the region. In addition, on 17 March 2022, in the period from 14:00 to 20:00, as a result of damage, the ZNPP inductive coupling line (750/330 kV) with the Zaporizhzhia thermal power plant was disconnected. This line can be used by the ZNPP to ensure power supply to the process systems of power units and power output in the event of failure of all four regular high-voltage lines. After eliminating the detected damage, the line operability was restored.
Due to hostilities in the region and the seizure of the ZNPP site and adjacent territories by the Russian occupation forces, there is a potential threat of the ZNPP blackout. According to the safety analysis reports of the ZNPP power units, the complete loss of external power supply to a power unit is the initiating event of a design basis accident.
The regulatory oversight over nuclear and radiation safety directly at the ZNPP site is currently not carried out, but the SNRIU remains in constant contact with the ZNPP.
According to information received from the ZNPP management:
- operational personnel continue monitoring the state of power units and ensuring their safe operation in accordance with the requirements of the operating procedures;
- the NPP operation is carried out exclusively by Zaporizhzhia NPP personnel, constant rotation of personnel is ensured;
- no changes in the radiological situation at the NPP site or in the control area and observation area have been registered;
- the search for hazardous items that appeared on the site and at the adjacent territory as the result of the ZNPP shelling by the Russian military continues;
Representatives of the State Atomic Energy Corporation of the Russian Federation “Rosatom” are still present at the ZNPP site.