Ukrainian officials said power to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant was restored on Sunday after warning of an increased risk of radiation leakage after Russian troops reportedly disconnected the plant from the power grid earlier in the week.
Ukraine’s Atomic Energy Ministry said in an online post on Sunday that the cooling systems will continue to operate normally after using a backup power source, Reuters reported.
Ukrainian authorities have warned of a potential radiation leak if a high-voltage power line connected to the nuclear power plant is not repaired, Reuters reported.
Russian forces took control of the Chernobyl nuclear site at the start of Moscow’s invasion about three weeks ago.
“It is impossible to say that the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is safe after a completely senseless attack by the Russians,” Mikhail Podolyak, an adviser to President Zelensky, said at the time. “This is one of the most serious threats in Europe today.”
Russia has seized a number of Ukrainian power plants in an invasion of a neighboring country.
Ukraine’s Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, one of the largest of its kind in Europe, caught fire earlier this month after a Russian attack, sparking alarm across the region.
US Permanent Representative to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the UN Security Council earlier this month that Russia’s focus on nuclear power plants could create a problem for Ukraine.
“Nuclear facilities cannot become part of this conflict,” she warned. “Russia must stop any further use of force that could endanger all 15 operating reactors across Ukraine or prevent Ukraine from maintaining the safety of its 37 nuclear reactors.” nuclear facilities and the population around them.
The invasion has killed at least 549 civilians in Ukraine since March 9, and more than 2.698 million refugees have fled the country, according to the UN.