Russia says Ukraine attack disrupted infrastructure of nuclear plant substation, warns against future attacks

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Russia said on Saturday that a Ukrainian attack on a nuclear power plant substation in southeastern Ukraine had disrupted the plant’s infrastructure facilities, warning against any more attacks.

A statement by the Russian-installed management of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant said the damage caused by the attack on the Raduga substation, located in the city of Enerhodar, disrupted the normal functioning of its facilities, including the plant's transport department and printing house, which it said were left without power.

“A repeated attack on key infrastructure facilities of Enerhodar poses a threat to the life support of the city,” the statement added, warning that such acts could impact the plant’s safety.

A day earlier, Eduard Senovoz, the Russian-installed mayor of Enerhodar, said on Telegram that a drone attack partially damaged the Raduga substation, the second substation in the city after the Luch substation, which was destroyed in a drone attack on Wednesday.

“The main part of the city is now without electricity and water. Specialists are working to address the consequences (of the attack),” Senovoz added, later writing on Saturday that power supply to the city has been restored after repair work on the damaged transformer was completed.

In a statement on Friday, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also confirmed the Luch substation’s destruction, indicating that power supplies to the plant were not directly affected, as the plant does not receive off-site power from either substation.

“Any attack affecting the power supplies to any of Ukraine’s NPPs (nuclear power plants) would be a violation of the seven indispensable pillars for ensuring nuclear safety and security during the conflict,” IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said in the statement, underlining the need for a "reliable external power supply from the grid for all nuclear facilities.”

"The damaged sustained by the Luch sub-station had a direct impact on plant staff who live in Enerhodar, immediately adjacent to the plant, and therefore also an impact on nuclear safety and security. It is therefore essential that energy infrastructure be protected and preserved at all times," Grossi added.

Ukrainian authorities have not yet commented on the incident, and independent verification of Russia’s claim is difficult due to the ongoing war.

Zaporizhzhia, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant and one of the world’s 10 biggest, and the city of Enerhodar have been under Russian control since March 2022, soon after the start of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Since then, fears of a nuclear catastrophe persist as both Moscow and Kyiv have accused each other of shelling near the plant.​​​​​​​