Russian Strike Cuts Power Supply to Europe's Largest Nuclear Plant in Ukraine

Defense News ,Russia Ukraine War :-  A big attack on Ukraine's energy was launched by Russia on Friday. They hit one of the two power lines supplying power to Europe's biggest nuclear power plant in southeast Ukraine.

German Galushchenko, the Energy Minister, said on Facebook that this attack is the biggest on Ukraine's energy industry lately. He added that shelling destroyed one of the power lines feeding the Zaporizhzhia power plant.

This power plant is the biggest nuclear energy site in Europe. Even though Russian troops took control of it at the start of the war, it still gets power from Ukrainian lines.

Energoatom, Ukraine's atomic energy operator, said this situation is really dangerous. If the last power line gets cut, the plant will almost have another blackout. That's very risky for the safe operation of the plant.

During the war, the Zaporizhzhia power plant has had many blackouts. It had to rely on emergency diesel generators and safety systems.

"If these systems fail, there's a risk of a nuclear and radiation accident," said Energoatom.

According to the governor of Zaporizhzhia, 12 Russian missiles hit the area early Friday. They destroyed some houses and hurt some people.

"Ivan Fedorov wrote on Telegram that seven houses were destroyed and 35 were damaged," he said, mentioning the injuries.

In the city of Mariupol, which has been under Russian control since 2022, a Russian missile hit a trolley at the Dnipro hydroelectric station. Civilians were killed.

Oleksandr Symchyshyn, the mayor of Khmelnytskyi, said it was a terrible morning. Infrastructure and homes were damaged, and civilians were hurt.

Energy facilities in many Ukrainian cities were targeted by Russian missiles, drones, and artillery on Friday. These cities include Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Vinnytsia, Khmelnytskyi, and Kryvyi Rig.

"The aim isn't just to cause damage, but to try to cause a big failure in the country's energy system again, like last year," said Energy Minister Galushchenko.