Radio Free Europe

RFE/RL journalists report the news in 22 countries where a free press is banned by the government or not fully established, including Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Russia.

More news

Belarus Says Supplying Electricity To Chernobyl Nuclear Plant.

Russian forces took over the Chernobyl facility shortly after the invasion began on February 24.

Russian forces took over the Chernobyl facility shortly after the invasion began on February 24.

Belarus is supplying electricity to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine, Belarusian authorities have said, after the facility, which is under the control of Russian forces, lost power.
The Belarusian Energy Ministry said in a statement published on the Telegram page of the Homel region that the electrical supply to the decommissioned plant "is completely restored." Radiation around the power plant, site of one of the world's worst nuclear disasters, remain at normal levels, the ministry statement said, citing local monitors.

Live Briefing: Russia Invades Ukraine

RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians . For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here .

It added that the electricity was being provided from the Belarusian power grid.
The plant needs electricity to power cooling systems for the spent nuclear-fuel-storage facility, among other systems. Power to the plant was knocked out on March 14 for the second time, according to Ukrainian authorities, after Russian forces damaged a power line.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said later that day it had been informed that external power had been restored and that work was under way to reconnect the facility to the grid.
Ukraine's state-owned grid operator, Ukrenergo, said then that the Chernobyl plant relied on electricity from diesel generators, and that the IAEA had been informed of the situation. The station is located north of Kyiv and close to the Belarusian border. Its nuclear reactors are enclosed in a giant steel and concrete sarcophagus and are not operating. Russian forces took over the facility shortly after it began its invasion on February 24.


Ukrenergo said one of the earlier outages was due to a disruption of an electricity line connecting Chernobyl with an electricity supplier in Kyiv. The outage put at risk some 20 tons of waste that must be constantly cooled to keep radiation from leaking and potentially endangering "Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, and Europe," Ukrenergo said. But the IAEA said earlier this month that given the time that has passed since the accident in 1986, the heat load and the volume of the cooling pools were "sufficient for effective heat removal without need for electrical supply."

With reporting by AFP

LIVE: Latest News, Breaking Stories and Analysis on March 27, 2024 - CBS News.

LIVE: Latest News, Breaking Stories and Analysis on March 27, 2024 - CBS News.

Search and recovery efforts are continuing in Baltimore where the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed on Tuesday after being struck by a large cargo ship. We're following this story and more on CBS News. #news #livenews #breakingnews CBS News Strea...

CBS News -

MSNBC hosts celebrate Ronna McDaniel's ousting on air: 'Did what was right'.

MSNBC hosts celebrate Ronna McDaniel's ousting on air: 'Did what was right'.

Fox News contributor Joe Concha joined 'Fox & Friends First' to discuss the message McDaniel's ousting sends after hosts revolted against her hiring on air. #FoxNews Subscribe to Fox News! Watch more Fox News Video: Watch Fox News Channel Live: FO...

Fox News -

Finley Boden: Review finds 'inadequate' safeguarding practices.

Finley Boden: Review finds 'inadequate' safeguarding practices.

A baby murdered by his parents just 39 days after being placed back into their care "should have been one of the most protected children in the local authority area", a review has said. The report found "inadequate" safeguarding practices in the l...

Sky News -

Heart-pounding audio reveals scramble to stop cars on Baltimore bridge moments before collapse.

Heart-pounding audio reveals scramble to stop cars on Baltimore bridge moments before collapse.

HEART-STOPPING audio reveals cops' rush to stop cars on Baltimore bridge before collapse and emergency crews race to get divers into the water…as ship crew face 2 WEEKS stranded onboard. Six construction workers are presumed dead after plunging in...

The Sun -

Divers recover data recorder from cargo ship that collided with bridge in Baltimore.

Divers recover data recorder from cargo ship that collided with bridge in Baltimore.

Divers have recovered the data recorder from the cargo ship that collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore #Shorts #Baltimore #Bridge SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel for more videos: Follow us on Twitter: Like us on Facebook: Follow...

Sky News -

Tennessee could overhaul reading law after 60% of third graders miss benchmark.

Tennessee could overhaul reading law after 60% of third graders miss benchmark.

Tennessee could overhaul a reading law after 60% of third graders did not pass the test. NBC News’ Kathy Park spoke with two families about how the law affected their children.  » Subscribe to NBC News: NBC News Digital is a collection of innovati...

NBC News -