Chernobyl nuclear plant in ‘complete blackout’ as Ukrainian city descends into chaos

Officials also don't know the state of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant

Russian forces have severed the Chernobyl nuclear power plant from Ukraine's national grid, plunging the city into darkness. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed on March 8 that Chernobyl had stopped sending data to the United Nation's watchdog - and for now, the city has gone dark. Explaining the blackout, overseeing body Ukrenergo said: "Because of the military actions of the Russian occupiers, the nuclear power plant in Chernobyl was fully disconnected from the power grid. "The nuclear station has no power supply. The military actions are in progress, so there is no possibility to restore the lines. Slavutich city is also out of power supply." Ukraine's national nuclear energy company has also warned that a lack of power could sent radioactive material into the air. Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko also said they don't know what the radiation levels are, as the plant has been under Russian control since last week. Related links:

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