Hydropower unit of nuclear plant complex shut down after strike, Ukrainian officials say

Russia attacked the South Ukraine nuclear power plant complex overnight on Monday, September 19, damaging the site and causing a partial shutdown, Ukrainian officials said.

Missiles landed 300 meters from the plant’s reactors, Ukraine’s nuclear authority, Energoatom, said on Monday, damaging nearby buildings and forcing the shutdown of a hydropower unit.

Energoatom said the attack took place just after midnight on Monday.

The shockwave damaged nuclear power plant buildings and broke more than 100 windows, it said. “One of the hydropower units of the Oleksandrivska HPP [hydroelectric power plant], which is part of the South Ukrainian power complex, is shut down,” along with three high-voltage power lines, it said.

None of the plant’s staff were hurt, Energoatom said, and the reactors were working normally.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted CCTV footage of the explosion.

Credit: Volodymyr Zelensky via Storyful