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The Zaporizhzhia nuclear
power station lost connection to the last remaining main external
power line again but continues to supply electricity to the grid
through a reserve line, the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) has said.

Experts from the UN nuclear watchdog now stationed at the plant were told by Ukrainian staff that the site’s fourth
operational 750 Kilovolt power line was down after three others
were lost earlier.

But IAEA experts also learned that a reserve line linking
the power station to a nearby thermal power plant was delivering
electricity to the external grid. This reserve line can also
provide backup power to the ZNPP if needed, it added. 

It comes after Ukrainian forces attempted to capture the Zaporizhzhia
nuclear power plant in an attack on the facility on Friday
night, according to Russia’s defence ministry in its daily briefing.

Russia claimed its forces foiled the attack using military helicopters and fighter jets, with 20 Ukrainian destroyed and the attack being called off.

Reuters, which reported the Russian claim, said it was unable to verify the report.