Russian troops are shelling Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant. Acting General Head of the nuclear station Igor Murashov said that nuclear safety at ZNPP was violated. For a long time, the Russian occupiers did not allow rescuers to get to the fire, rescuers were fired at. In the morning, the SES still managed to get to the location.
Update 07:50. The streets are quiet, no strangers are detected, according to the press service of Energoatom. Those who stayed in the shelter for the night can return home. But due to the extremely tense situation, it is recommended to spend less time on the street and stay at home.
Due to damage of the heating main during the shelling, Energodar was left without heating. The possibility of resumption of work is still to be decided.
Update 07:20. Used nuclear fuel is stored at the Zaporizhzhya NPP. The adviser of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Vadim Denisenko reported about it on air of the Rada TV channel.
"It's radiation, God forbid, fire. It's scary to imagine. It's a nuclear bomb," Denisenko said.
Update 06:40. The fire in the training building of Zaporizhzhya NPP in Energodar was extinguished. There are no victims and injured, - the SES reports.
Update 06:30. No changes in the radiation status have been recorded so far, the ZNPP power units remain intact, the State Nuclear Regulation reports.
There are damages to the reactor compartment of Unit №1, which do not affect the safety of the unit. Systems and elements that are important for the safety of NPPs are in working condition.
Condition of power units:
Power unit № 1: planned and preventive repairs.
Power units №№ 2, 3: disconnected from the power grid and transferred to safe mode.
Power unit № 4: working, electric power is 690 MW.
Power units № 5, 6: transferred to safe mode.
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson said that Putin's reckless actions pose a direct threat to the whole of Europe, and the main priority now is to force the Russian side to immediately cease hostilities in the nuclear power plant zone. This was reported by the press service of the British Parliament. Johnson also announced his intention to convene an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in the coming hours on the situation at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant.
Update 06:05. The fire in the training building of Zaporizhzhya NPP in Energodar was localized in an area of 2 thousand square meters. According to the preliminary data there are no victims.
Update 05:49. After conducting reconnaissance in the five-storey training building of the Zaporizhzhya NPP in Energodar, it was established that the chambers on the third, fourth and fifth floors were on fire. 44 people and 11 units of equipment from the SES were sent to put out the fire.
Update from the SES as of 05:20. At the Zaporizhzhya NPP in Energodar, SES units went to put out the fire in the training building. 40 people and 10 units of equipment from the SES were sent there.
The IAEA has decided to open a Center for Incidents and Emergencies in connection with the fire at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, which occurred as a result of shelling by Russian troops. The center will operate around the clock "due to a serious situation" at the nuclear power plant.
US President Joe Biden has called on Russia to end hostilities in the ZNPP area and allow rescuers to the scene of the fire.
Update from the SES as of 4.00: As a result of shelling outside the NPP, one of the buildings of the training complex continues to burn. The fire covered 3, 4, 5 floors of a five-story building.
The occupiers do not allow the SES units to start eliminating the consequences of the fire. In Energodar, one of the six power units is operating at the Zaporizhzhya NPP. NPP’s anti fire conditions are within the norm.
Update 05:18. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi has called for refraining from fighting in Energodar. He also said that the IAEA is continuing consultations with Ukraine and "other parties" to provide "maximum assistance" in Ukraine's efforts to maintain nuclear and physic security in the current environment.
Update 5:01. IAEA: According to the Ukrainian authorities, the fire did not affect the main equipment of the station, the staff is taking all precocious measures.
Update 04:49. The mayor of Energodar Dmitry Orlov on the air of the Rada TV channel said that there was no information about the number of victims of the fire at ZNPP, reports Public. "There are those who are severely wounded, it is not possible to take them to the hospital. They were simply chased by the enemy's power unit. Firefighters were not allowed to enter. They arrived, turned around, and went in the opposite direction. The situation is very critical," Orlov said.
According to him, the shots have stopped now. He believes that Russian troops aimed at the nuclear power plant not by chance. "They just rushed to power units, administrative buildings, and auxiliary buildings. I have no information about their demands," the mayor said.
Update 04:42. The White House has officially announced that Biden has held talks with Zelensky. Also after this conversation, Biden spoke with the administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration and the Deputy Minister of Nuclear Security to get information about the situation at the station. The specifics of these talks are not reported.
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson told Zelensky that he was convening an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in the near future on the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant. UNIAN reports that with reference to Downing Street.
Update 04.39. Oleksandr Starukh - Head of the Zaporizhia Regional State Administration: The situation remains extremely difficult. The station governance and staff are doing their best to keep the peaceful atom peaceful!
Update 04:17. IAEA Ukrainian Regulatory Authority: No change in radiation levels at the ZNPP site has been reported.
Minister of Energy Herman Galushchenko had a telephone conversation with US Energy Secretary Jennifer Grengolm. He said that Russian troops were shelling the ZNPP from the air and tanks. He asked to prevent a nuclear catastrophe and close the skies over Ukraine.
This is the Russian Army attacking Europe’s largest nuclear plant. Are the intentionally trying to cause a massive nuclear catastrophe? pic.twitter.com/dSjPNbgEry
— Alexander S. Vindman (@AVindman) March 4, 2022
Update 04:10. Acting General Head Igor Murashov: nuclear safety at ZNPP is violated. We are doing everything possible, but the fire continues, firefighters are not allowed. There are huge risks. There is warfare at the station. Reactors are in danger.
Update, 3:52 a.m. Director informed that Nuclear safety secured, Zaporizhzhya NPP - Head of Zaporizhzhya Region State Administration
Update, 3:50 a.m. Volodymyr Zelensky made a statement that Russian tanks have night vision equipment but shelling the Zaporizhzhya NPP. “They know where they shell at. They were prepared”
Update, 3:45 a.m. Firefighters were not allowed to enter the Zaporizhzhya NPP, Energoatom telegram channel informed. Power unit 3 switched off. Fire condition of the power system is within the norm.
Andriy Tuz also noted that a fire broke out as a result of the shelling of ZNPP. The mayor of Energodar also noted that fierce fighting continues at night near the Zaporizhzhya NPP. The Armed Forces keep the defense, but there are victims.
The mayor of Energodar also noted that fierce battles continue near the Zaporizhzhya NPP at night. The Armed Forces hold the defense, but there are victims.
The head of the power plant and the main staff are at work.
Update, 3:25 a.m. Firefighters were allowed to enter the Zaporizhzhya NPP, said head of the Zaporizhzhya Regional Military Administration Oleksandr Starukh. Currently, the wind from the NPP is blowing towards the south-eastern part of Ukraine and in the direction of major Russian cities: Rostov-on-Don and Krasnodar.
Update, 02:50: Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba called on Russia to immediately stop shelling and allow firefighters to put out the fire.
Update, 02:27. According to the press service of the President's Office, the shelling is carried out by 100 units of Russian military equipment.
Update: 02:15. The telegram channel of Energoatom announced that shelling resulted in a hit into the power unit.
"The first power unit was hit, rescuers can't start extinguishing the fire, because the shelling continues. There is no information about the violation of the radiation background yet," said a spokesman for the station, Andriy Tuz.
Live broadcast from ZNPP:
As a reminder, previously it became known that a column of the Russian equipment moves towards the NPP in Energodar.