Ukraine and Russia agree on local ceasefire
ЗАЕС
The head of the IAEA announced the achievement of a local ceasefire to carry out repairs on a power transmission line near the Zaporizhzhia NPP. The temporary ceasefire should help restore power supply and strengthen nuclear safety.
This was reported by the IAEA press service .
The agency said that important repair work has begun on a power line near the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant after another local ceasefire reached through the mediation of the IAEA.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi thanked both sides for agreeing to a temporary cessation of hostilities to allow for recovery work.
“Grossi thanks both parties for agreeing to this new temporary window of silence in order to restore electricity transmission between the distribution stations of the ZNPP and the Zaporizhzhia Thermal Power Plant, which will contribute to strengthening nuclear safety,” the IAEA wrote.
The agency noted that the IAEA team is constantly monitoring the repair work, which is expected to last several days.
Since the beginning of the Russian occupation on March 4, 2022, the Zaporizhzhia NPP has repeatedly experienced complete and partial blackouts due to the loss of all power lines. In such cases, the plant has launched emergency diesel generators and safety systems, the failure of which could lead to an emergency situation.
The IAEA reported that before the war, the Zaporizhzhia NPP had 10 power transmission lines, including 6 at 750 kilovolts and 4 at 330 kilovolts. The largest nuclear power plant in Europe, which consists of 6 power units with a capacity of 1 gigawatt each, has not produced electricity since September 11, 2022.
The issue of the Zaporizhzhia NPP remains one of the problematic issues during the negotiations on a possible peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia mediated by the US. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Washington is proposing a joint management option for the station by the US, Ukraine and Russia in a ratio of 33% to 33% to 33%. Ukraine, for its part, is proposing the creation of a joint venture in the format of 50% of the US and 50% of Ukraine, while Russia insists on the creation of a joint venture with the US.
As previously reported, Washington proposed dividing the management of the Zaporizhzhia NPP , which is located in the occupied territory, into three parts – between Ukraine, the United States, and Russia.