The Russian Foreign Ministry told Sputnik: “On September 23, a strike by Ukrainian forces damaged the Dniprovska energy transmission base, which supplies the external power grid of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Although the plant’s reactors are in a cold shutdown state, external electrical supply is crucial for its safe operation.
To restore the plant’s regular external power supply, the Russian side raised with the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, the need to assist in establishing a ceasefire system.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry added that “repair work on the power line at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant began on October 18 and will take several days.”
The ministry highlighted the mediation efforts made by the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, which “enabled the safety of repair works at this stage,” adding: “We hope this continues.”
Earlier, the Associated Press, citing diplomats, reported that “the International Atomic Energy Agency is pressing Russia and Ukraine to reach a local ceasefire to restore external power supplies to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.”
