Ukrainian officials reported to AFP on Thursday that the abandoned Chernobyl nuclear plant was receiving power as usual, just one day after President Volodymyr Zelensky raised alarms about a temporary loss of electricity.

Zelensky noted that a containment structure at the facility had been disconnected from power for over three hours due to a Russian strike on an energy substation in Slavutych, a town established for personnel who were evacuated following the 1986 disaster.

“Everything is functioning normally today,” the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy informed AFP on Thursday.

The administration of the Chernobyl exclusion zone also stated to AFP that the New Safe Confinement — the protective structure enclosing the exploded reactor and its original shelter to prevent the escape of radioactive materials — was “operational as usual.”

Russian troops took control of the plant in northern Ukraine on the initial day of their invasion in February 2022.

Throughout the conflict, Ukraine’s nuclear facilities have experienced repeated assaults by Russian forces, heightening concerns about a potential nuclear catastrophe.

The explosion of reactor number four in 1986 remains the worst nuclear disaster in history, exposing countless individuals to high levels of radiation.

Meanwhile, the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been disconnected from the power grid since last Tuesday, with both Russia and Ukraine exchanging accusations over responsibility for the blackout.

Before the conflict, the six reactors at Zaporizhzhia generated about 20% of Ukraine’s electricity but were shut down after Moscow’s takeover.

However, the plant requires power to sustain cooling and safety systems that prevent reactor meltdowns and the release of radiation into the environment.

On Tuesday, Zelensky described the situation there as “critical,” mentioning that one of the backup diesel generators had “failed.”

The operator installed by Moscow claimed on Wednesday that conditions at the site were “under control.”

Since the war began, Zaporizhzhia has faced numerous safety hazards, including persistent shelling nearby, ongoing power outages, and workforce shortages.

Located near the city of Enerhodar along the Dnieper River, the plant is situated at what is now the de facto frontline in southern Ukraine.