KYIV (AFP) – Electricity provide has been restored at Ukraine’s retired Chernobyl nuclear energy plant that was seized by Russian forces within the first days of the invasion, power officers in Kyiv mentioned Sunday (March 13).
“Today, thanks to the incredible efforts of (Ukrainian energy) specialists, our nuclear power engineers and electricians managed to return the power supply to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which was seized by the Russian occupiers,” Ukraine’s Energy Minister German Galushchenko mentioned in a press release.
“Our Ukrainian energy engineers, by risking their own health and lives, were able to avert the risk of a possible nuclear catastrophe that threatened the whole of Europe,” he added.
An explosion on the Chernobyl nuclear energy plant in 1986 killed lots of and unfold a radioactive cloud west throughout Europe.
Ukraine mentioned on Wednesday energy had been minimize to the plant, however the UN’s atomic watchdog mentioned there was “no critical impact on safety”.
Russian forces additionally shelled and captured the Zaporizhzhia plant, Europea’s largest atomic energy plant, on March 4, inflicting a hearth that raised alarm in Europe over a potential nuclear disaster.
Russian engineers arrived at Zaporizhzhia earlier this week to test radiation ranges.
In his assertion, Galushchenko additionally reiterated calls on the worldwide group to assist safe Ukraine’s nuclear services and set up a 30-km demilitarised protecting zone round them.
“It is now extremely important to force the enemy to leave our our nuclear power plants,” he mentioned.
The post Power restored to Chernobyl plant, seized by Russian forces: Ukraine first appeared on Umorr.
