Ukraine's nuclear infrastructure strained after missile blitz
Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency are assessing the situation at Ukraine's nuclear power plants following Sunday's missile attack by Russia. Preliminary findings indicate that seven of the country's nine operational reactors sustained damage.
7:51 AM EST, November 18, 2024
Following the large-scale Russian assault on Ukraine on Sunday, seven of the nine operational reactors in the country were damaged, according to Bloomberg.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that in the attack across all regions of Ukraine, the Russians deployed 120 missiles and 90 drones, targeting energy infrastructure.
"The country's energy infrastructure is extremely vulnerable to attacks, directly affecting nuclear safety," said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, as quoted by Bloomberg. He added that inspectors are evaluating the extent of the damage.
Staff from the International Atomic Energy Agency, who are monitoring the situation at Ukraine's power plants, reported that on Sunday, only two out of the nine reactors were generating electricity at full capacity.
Production was reduced to 40-90% capacity, according to a statement from the UN's nuclear energy oversight body.
With its four nuclear power plants, Ukraine was considered an energy powerhouse in Europe even before the invasion. It ranks third in nuclear generation potential on the continent.
According to data cited by the industry portal nuklear.pl, the total installed capacity of the 15 Ukrainian units is 13,835 MW. This figure represents more than half of the electricity produced in Ukraine.
