The Chernobyl nuclear plant has lost power again after Russian forces damaged a high-voltage power line to the plant for the second time, Ukraine"s national energy company, Ukrenergo, said today.

According to the Ukrenergo, its technicians had started to supply power Sunday evening but “before the power supply was fully restored, the occupying forces damaged it again”. Company said it will attempt another repair.

The power is used to feed pumps and other equipment that keep spent nuclear fuel at the former power plant cool to prevent radiation leaks.

The Chernobyl site is also equipped with diesel generators, and Belarusian authorities said last week that they had set up an emergency power supply from the nearby border.