IAEA seeks to visit Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant amid concerns

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A team from the U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency is expected to visit the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine soon but more shelling was reported in the area overnight. The visit comes after the plant was temporarily knocked offline, fueling fears of a catastrophe in a nation still haunted by the 1986 Chernobyl disaster

There were conflicting reports Friday on the extent of the damage to a transmission line at the complex —Europe's largest nuclear plant — that caused a blackout across the region on Thursday. It was not immediately clear whether the damaged line carried outgoing electricity or incoming power that is needed for the reactors’ vital cooling systems. A loss of cooling could cause a nuclear meltdown.

Russia-installed officials in the Zaporizhzhia region have blamed Ukraine for the fire. They said Friday that plant was functioning normally but that because of the problem, the plant was only supplying electricity to Russia-controlled areas and not the rest of Ukraine.

Ukrenergo, Ukraine’s electricity transmission system operator, however, reported Friday that the two main power lines supplying the Zaporizhzhia plant with electricity that were damaged by the Russian shelling have resumed operation.

“Thanks to this, a stable power supply and safe operation of nuclear waste storage facilities and other important facilities located at the ZNPP site were ensured,” Ukrenergo reported on Telegram. The statement added that the company’s repair teams will soon complete the restoration of another main line, further boosting the safety of the power plant.

Ukraine’s nuclear power plant operator, Energoatom, said Friday morning that all of the plant's power units were still disconnected from the power grid and repair work...