DISINFO: A reactor accident occurred at the Ukrainian NPP due to US fuel
SUMMARY
An accident occurred at the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant (KhNPP), stopping the reactor, which was filled with fuel from the United States. Ukrainian reactors can only operate on Russian fuel, but American fuel from Westinghouse had just been delivered to the nuclear power plant on the eve of the accident. It is unknown whether radiation was released as a result of this accident.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about nuclear issues in the context of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, this time with the new twist that American fuel is dangerous and only Russian supplies will do.
On March 14, 2024, the Ukrainian national operator Energoatom announced the disconnection of the second power unit of the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant from the network. The shutdown of the power unit was attributed to a mechanical failure in a turbine that generates electricity through steam pressure. The reactor remains fully functional, as do the nuclear fuel assemblies. Energoatom highlighted that the decision to shut down the turbine unit at KhNPP was made due to an excess of electricity in the market. All other power units are operating normally at their rated capacity, posing no threat to the station's nuclear safety.
This information was confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), whose experts are permanently stationed at all Ukrainian nuclear power plants. The IAEA noted that the plant manually shut down reactor unit 2 to investigate an issue with the turbine shaft. This event did not compromise the nuclear safety and security of the plant, the IAEA emphasised.
In the 2000s, Ukraine took initial steps to diversify its nuclear fuel supplies by moving away from Russian services. Ukraine selected an alternative supplier, Westinghouse Electric Sweden AB, which triggered a wave of criticism from Russia.
In 2014, Ukraine actively began adopting advanced Western technologies, modernizing its nuclear power plants, and transitioning power units to alternative nuclear fuel. After Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine abandoned Russian nuclear fuel completely. Now Ukrainian Nuclear Power Plants operate on American assemblies and Ukrainian elements manufactured using Westinghouse technology. Over 24 years of operation at Ukrainian nuclear power plants, Western technologies have proven to be efficient and safe in use.
See similar disinformation cases claiming that the The IAEA is satisfied with the state of the Zaporizhzhia NPP under Russian control, that UK is supervising the preparation of a provocation at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant by Kyiv and that Ukraine may blow the Zaporizhzhia nuclear site up to cover up the failure of the counter-offensive.