Ukrainian artillery targeted the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant and the city of Energodar again, local military-civilian administration member Vladimir Rogov said shortly before midnight on Friday, with at least one heavy projectile allegedly hitting between reactors two and three. The attack comes after Ukraine’s military admitted to bombing the area for the first time and a failed attempt by Kiev’s commandos to seize the plant while UN inspectors were visiting.
Four rounds impacted the area of the Zaporozhye NPP, Rogov said on Telegram, three of which struck about 400 meters to the east. The shelling has cut the main power line along the Dnieper river, so the ZNPP is having to divert power for its own operational needs, he added.
The power plant was back to normal operation by 2 am local time, with two of the reactors running, RIA Novosti reported citing local officials.
The renewed attack comes after the departure of the main International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) mission, which visited the plant on Thursday. However, IAEA director Rafael Grossi told reporters on Friday that six of the agency’s experts stayed behind in Energodar. Four of them will return after the weekend and two will remain as a “permanent presence” at the ZNPP, Grossi said after landing in Vienna.