Russia’s Investigative Committee announced the initiation of a criminal case following the death of the chief engineer of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in a purported Ukrainian drone attack. The incident occurred in Enerhodar, where Alexander Yakovlev’s vehicle was targeted, resulting in his and his driver’s death, along with injuries to a plant employee.
Yevgeny Balitsky, the governor of the Russia-controlled part of the Zaporizhzhia region, accused Ukraine of actively disrupting the nuclear plant’s operations through drone strikes on various facilities. The Zaporizhzhia plant, a significant nuclear power facility in Europe, has been under Russian control since March 2022.
Recently, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant’s repeated loss of off-site power supply amid the ongoing Ukraine crisis. The plant faced its 21st power outage due to a disconnection from the 330 kV Ferosplavna-1 transmission line, raising concerns about its nuclear safety protocols.
Military activities triggering electrical protection systems on transmission lines have necessitated emergency diesel generators at the ZNPP to sustain critical functions like reactor cooling systems. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi emphasized the importance of military restraint to prevent potential nuclear accidents at the plant.
