Ukrainian drones take down substations near nuclear plant, Russian officials say

Russian authorities say Ukrainian drone strikes knocked out two electrical substations in Enerhodar, the city serving the nuclear plant. Zaporizhzhia –occupied by the Russians–, cutting off power to most of its inhabitants. The attack would have occurred last Friday night (21).

But an authority at the station ZaporizhzhiaEurope’s largest nuclear plant, with six reactors, stated that the installation was not affected by the military action.

Russian troops seized the plant in the first days of the invasion, in February 2022. Moscow and Kiev have accused each other of endangering security around the facilities. The plant is not producing electricity at this time.

Eduard Senovoz, the top authority in Enerhodar, wrote on Telegram that the attack damaged the second of two substations that supply the city. The other was destroyed on Wednesday, he wrote.

Ukrainian authorities have not commented on the incident. Reuters was unable to independently confirm the reports.

Yevgeny Yashin, director of communications at the station Zaporizhzhiatold Russian news agencies that the most recent attack did not damage the plant, and that the substation could be repaired.

“Experts went to the scene to assess the damage,” he told RIA news agency. “There is a possibility to restore the damaged transformer, but it will take time.”