Ask HN: Why is Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant still sending electricity to Ukraine?
7 comments
Why is Russia sending gas to, and through, Ukraine?
At the end of the day, it comes down to their goals and what other countries will tolerate.
On the face of it, Russia, allegedly, claims to be interested in liberating the average Ukrainian citizen, not killing them all (Bucha etc. notwithstanding). If they started making cut and dry moves to shut down the entire country and cripple it, this goal is totally out the window and the optics shift from 'atrocious' to 'utterly indefensible'. Russia has allies that they have to keep feeling safe and secure, to ensure cooperation, trade, and thus guarantee their war machine.
More broadly, there is an agreed framework for how to 'ethically' wage a war and whilst they have violated a number of such rules, drawing universal ire from a unified international community by using any and all the means at their disposal to affect Ukraine, not distinguishing between civilians or soliders, is probably a step too far even for Russia.
At the end of the day, it comes down to their goals and what other countries will tolerate.
On the face of it, Russia, allegedly, claims to be interested in liberating the average Ukrainian citizen, not killing them all (Bucha etc. notwithstanding). If they started making cut and dry moves to shut down the entire country and cripple it, this goal is totally out the window and the optics shift from 'atrocious' to 'utterly indefensible'. Russia has allies that they have to keep feeling safe and secure, to ensure cooperation, trade, and thus guarantee their war machine.
More broadly, there is an agreed framework for how to 'ethically' wage a war and whilst they have violated a number of such rules, drawing universal ire from a unified international community by using any and all the means at their disposal to affect Ukraine, not distinguishing between civilians or soliders, is probably a step too far even for Russia.
_xcs4(1)
I'm speculating, but I think it is probably because a nuclear power plant isn't something you can easily disconnect and then reconnect later. This particular power plant seems to need an external connection to power its cooling loop, so if you can't switch over to a different power supplier very quickly you need to shut the reactor down first, and they take months to restart.
Further, if Russia wants to use the power for itself they likely have some work to synchronise this power plant with their network that is running a different frequency from the Ukrainian one. There's no real way of knowing how much that work is because it will also depend on how many other generators and consumers they will connect on the way back to their national grid.
Further, if Russia wants to use the power for itself they likely have some work to synchronise this power plant with their network that is running a different frequency from the Ukrainian one. There's no real way of knowing how much that work is because it will also depend on how many other generators and consumers they will connect on the way back to their national grid.
> Further, if Russia wants to use the power for itself they likely have some work to synchronise this power plant with their network that is running a different frequency from the Ukrainian one.
Surely they'd first have to build/divert transmission lines towards the Russian grid? And if the objective was to steal Ukraine's electricity, it's probably easier to just take it from their grid directly rather than a single, specific power plant?
Surely they'd first have to build/divert transmission lines towards the Russian grid? And if the objective was to steal Ukraine's electricity, it's probably easier to just take it from their grid directly rather than a single, specific power plant?
Ukraine was connected to the Russian grid up until around March(?) this year, definitely still at the start of the invasion, so presumably the Ukrainians haven't had time to tear down all the existing transmission lines.
You can’t threaten to cut power if you’ve already cut power!
I can see that as a defense against Ukraine destroying the plant, but I wouldn’t ever expect them to do that, as destroying a nuclear power plant in your own country is not the best of ideas.
So, why is it still sending electricity to Ukraine?
Also, does Ukraine pay Russia for that electricity?