Russian strikes halve Ukraine’s nuclear output
Attack cuts Ukraine’s nuclear generation by 50 %, raising serious safety and power supply concerns.
Image for illustrative purposes
Ukraine: Russia launched its most severe attack yet on Ukraine’s nuclear-connected substations on 7 February, forcing the country to reduce nuclear power output by roughly half, Vitaliy Zaichenko, CEO of state grid operator Ukrenergo, told the Kyiv Independent.
Ukrenergo has managed to restore one substation so far, but the situation remains critical. “The Russians were very successful. All our nuclear plants had to decrease generation, and we lost half the capacity immediately after the attack,” Zaichenko said.
The strikes targeted high-voltage substations linking Ukraine’s three operational nuclear plants to the grid, forcing one reactor to shut down entirely. Additional power restrictions were quickly imposed nationwide amid the coldest winter of Russia’s ongoing invasion. Thermal power plants and other energy facilities were also hit, worsening the electricity shortage.
Nuclear power remains a vital component of Ukraine’s energy system. Although the plants themselves were not directly attacked, military intelligence warns Russia aims to disconnect them from the grid by destroying substations. Electricity is crucial for reactor cooling and safety; without grid power, plants rely on backup diesel generators, which, if they fail, could lead to a meltdown within hours.
President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attacks and urged international partners to provide additional protection for nuclear infrastructure, including more air-defence missile systems. He emphasised that nuclear facilities are “constant targets” and require stronger safeguards.
Source: The Kyiv Independent
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