Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant, which has been controlled by Russian forces since early March, has been disconnected from the national power supply.
State energy operator Enerhoatom said on Telegram on August 25 that the last two working reactors at Europe's largest nuclear power plant were disconnected from the power grid after nearby fires damaged overhead power lines connecting the nuclear plant to the grid.
"As a result, the two working power units at the station were disconnected from the network. Thus, the actions of the [Russians] caused a complete disconnection of the plant from the power grid -- the first in the history of the plant," the statement says, adding that efforts to restart one of the power units to connect it to the network are under way.
The plant has been under Russian control since March 4, nearly two weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine. Ukrainian engineers have been allowed to continue operating the plant under Russian supervision. It has been the site of fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces in recent weeks, sparking fears of a nuclear disaster.
Both Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of shelling the plant.
The United Nations has offered to help facilitate a visit by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors, but Moscow has insisted the inspectors travel to the plant via Russian-controlled territory rather than Ukraine proper.
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said earlier on August 25 that Kyiv and Moscow agree that UN personnel need to go to inspect the situation at the nuclear power plant.
