Ukraine's Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant has been reconnected to its main external power line, state-owned power generating company Enerhoatom said on August 11, averting what officials said was a possible blackout.
The announcement on the Telegram app comes a day after Enerhoatom had reported Europe's biggest nuclear power plant had switched to a reserve line after it had lost connection to its last remaining external power line overnight on August 10.
The plant with its six reactors has been controlled by the invading Russian military since the early days of Moscow's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
It has become one of the focal points of the conflict, with both sides blaming each other for shelling around the site. The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been trying to set up a safety mechanism to prevent accidents.
None of the plant's six reactors produce electricity.
On August 10, Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko appealed for help from the IAEA.
"This is the only external power line left. And such a situation is one step away from the blackout of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant -- that is, the final loss of external power supply," Halushchenko said.
SEE ALSO: Ukrainian Minister Warns Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Plant 'One Step Away' From BlackoutEnerhoatom warned earlier on August 10 that the Russian-occupied nuclear plant was on the verge of a blackout because power was cut from the main high-voltage line.
An IAEA news release on August 10 said the main power line had been disconnected twice during the day and "remains disconnected."
The statement said there had been no total loss of off-site power to the site and there no need to use the emergency diesel generators.
But IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi warned in the statement that the "repeated power line cuts underline the continuing precarious nuclear safety and security situation at the plant."
Separately, the station's Russian-installed administration said on August 10 that the No. 4 reactor had been moved from a "hot" to a "cold" shutdown because of signs of a steam leak.
One of the six reactors needs to be in "hot shutdown" to produce steam for the plant's own needs.
Grossi confirmed this, adding the shutdown will be used to determine the cause of the water leak and to conduct maintenance to repair the affected steam generator.
There was no radiological release to the environment as a result of the leak, he added.