The announcement was made by the Ukrainian nuclear operator Energoatom on Thursday, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
"As a result of another mortar shelling by Russian … forces at the site of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the emergency protection was activated and the operational fifth power unit was shut down," Energoatom wrote on the messaging app Telegram.
The operator added that "power unit No. 6 continues to work in the energy system of Ukraine" and is supplying electricity for the nuclear station's own needs.
As a result of the shelling, a power supply line used for the plant's own needs was also damaged and auxiliary generators had to be activated, the Reuters news agency reported.
Diesel generators were being used at non-operating power unit No. 2, Energoatom said.
UN experts head to Zaporizhzhia plant
Earlier on Thursday, a team of United Nations nuclear experts set out on a trip to the power plant, amid reports by both Ukraine and Russia that fighting was under way around Enerhodar, where the facility is located.
International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi said the mission was aware of “increased military activity in the area” but was going ahead with its plan to visit the nuclear station and meet personnel there, US broadcaster CNBC reported.
Russian forces put Enerhodar under intense shelling from early Thursday morning, Polish state news agency PAP reported, citing Ukrainian officials.
Moscow, Kyiv trading blame
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe's largest, was captured by Russian forces on March 4. Since then, Russian troops have stationed military equipment at the facility and have been constantly shelling the nearby area, the IAR news agency said.
Conditions at the plant have been deteriorating for weeks, with Moscow and Kyiv trading blame for shelling in the vicinity and fuelling fears of a radiation disaster, according to Reuters.
Thursday is day 190 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, Reuters, cnbc.com