Current:Home > NewsLast reactor shut down at Ukraine's largest nuclear plant as fighting, flooding continues-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
Last reactor shut down at Ukraine's largest nuclear plant as fighting, flooding continues
View Date:2025-01-13 05:49:13
Ukraine's nuclear energy agency says it has put the last operating reactor at Europe's largest nuclear power plant into a "cold shutdown" — a safety precaution amid catastrophic flooding from the collapse of a nearby dam as Russia's war on Ukraine drags on through its 16th month.
Russian forces continued pummeling the country with missiles and drones overnight, with Ukrainian officials reporting at least four deaths and damage to a military airfield.
Five out of six reactors at the Zaporizhzhia
Nuclear Power Plant, which is occupied by Russian forces, are already in a state of cold shutdown, in which all control rods are inserted into the reactor core to stop the nuclear fission reaction and generation of heat and pressure.
Energoatom, the Ukrainian nuclear agency, said in a statement late Friday that there was "no direct threat" to the Zaporizhzhia plant due to the breach of the Kakhovka dam further down the Dnieper River, which has forced thousands of people to flee flooding and also sharply reduced water levels in a reservoir used to help cool the facility.
The last reactor was put into cold shutdown on Thursday, Energoatom said, adding that other factors in the decision included shelling near the site which has damaged overhead lines connecting the plant to Ukraine's energy system.
With all nuclear reactions stopped, temperatures and pressure inside reactors gradually decline, reducing the required intensity of water cooling of the radioactive fuel. This is a nuclear power plant's safest operating mode. Energoatom employees are still working at the power plant, although it remains controlled by the Russians.
The site's power units have not been operating since September last year. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency is due to visit Ukraine in the coming days.
Analysts and Russia say that Ukraine has launched a counteroffensive in southern Ukraine, potentially aiming to retake territory near the plant.
Also on Saturday morning, Ukrainian authorities reported that at least four civilians have died across the country as Russian forces launched Iranian-made Shahed drones, missiles, and artillery and mortar strikes. Ukraine's State Emergency Service reported that three people were killed and over two dozen wounded overnight in an attack targeting the Black Sea port of Odesa. A spokesperson for Ukraine's southern operational command, Natalia Humeniuk, said that two children and a pregnant woman were among those wounded.
In Ukraine's northeast, a 29-year-old man was killed as more than 10 drones targeted the Kharkiv region, its governor, Oleh Syniehubov, reported Saturday. He added that at least three other civilians were wounded.
In the Poltava region further west, there was damage to a military airfield struck overnight during a Russian drone and missile attack, local Gov. Dmytro Lunin reported. Lunin said no one was hurt. As of Saturday morning, there was no additional comment from the Ukrainian army or officials on the extent of the damage.
The Ukrainian air force said that during the night, it had shot down 20 out of 35 Shahed drones and two out of eight missiles "of various types" launched by Russian forces.
- In:
- Ukraine
- Politics
- Russia
- Drone
veryGood! (822)
Related
- Armie Hammer Says His Mom Gifted Him a Vasectomy for His 38th Birthday
- Sweeping bill would expand childcare and early childhood education in Kentucky
- Finland extends Russia border closure until April 14 saying Moscow hasn’t stopped sending migrants
- Usher Marries Jennifer Goicoechea in Vegas Ceremony During Super Bowl 2024 Weekend
- NFL overreactions: New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys going nowhere after Week 10
- Why Hoda Kotb's Daughter Called Out Travis Kelce for Heated Super Bowl Exchange With Coach Andy Reid
- Super Bowl thriller was the most-watched program ever, averaging 123.4 million viewers
- 10 Things I Hate About You Actor Andrew Keegan Responds to Claims He Ran a Cult
- The Army’s answer to a lack of recruits is a prep course to boost low scores. It’s working
- The best and worst Super Bowl commercials of 2024: Watch this year's outlier ads
Ranking
- Burt Bacharach, composer of classic songs, will have papers donated to Library of Congress
- What is Galentine's Day? Ideas for celebrating the Valentine's Day alternative with your besties
- The best and worst Super Bowl commercials of 2024: Watch this year's outlier ads
- Super Bowl overtime means 6 free wings from Buffalo Wild Wings: Here's when to get yours
- Maryland man wanted after 'extensive collection' of 3D-printed ghost guns found at his home
- Jon Stewart’s return to ‘The Daily Show’ felt familiar to those who missed him while he was away
- The Best Luxury Bath Towels of 2024 That Are So Soft, They Feel Like Clouds
- Biden reelection campaign joins TikTok — though Biden banned its use on government devices
Recommendation
-
Best fits for Corbin Burnes: 6 teams that could match up with Cy Young winner
-
Usher Marries Jennifer Goicoechea in Vegas Ceremony During Super Bowl 2024 Weekend
-
Blake Lively Responds to Ryan Reynolds Trolling Her About Super Bowl 2024 BFF Outing
-
Has Tanya Rad’s Engagement Inspired BFF Becca Tilley to Marry Hayley Kiyoko? Becca Says…
-
Shawn Mendes quest for self-discovery is a quiet triumph: Best songs on 'Shawn' album
-
Pennsylvania outage map: Nearly 150,000 power outages reported as Nor'easter slams region
-
Idaho residents on alert after 2 mountain lions spotted at least 17 times this year
-
Super Bowl overtime means 6 free wings from Buffalo Wild Wings: Here's when to get yours