Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant now runs on emergency diesel after blackout cuts external power, raising safety concerns.( Pic:Ukrainian Presidential Press SER)
Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine (EPICSTORIAN) — All external power lines supplying electricity to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant have gone down, forcing the facility to rely on emergency diesel generators to cool reactor fuel, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed on Friday.
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), which has been under Russian occupation since early 2022, experienced a complete blackout at 17:36 local time. This marks the ninth time the plant has lost off-site power during the war.
Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant outage threatens reactor cooling systems
The IAEA stated on X that this is the first total power loss at the site since late 2023. Though the plant’s six reactors are currently shut down, electricity is still required to keep the reactor cores and spent fuel pools cool and safe.
“Ukraine’s ZNPP lost all off-site power… and is now using emergency diesel generators,” the agency noted, emphasizing that repeated blackouts increase the risk of nuclear safety incidents over time.
Ukraine accuses Russia of sabotaging vital nuclear infrastructure
Ukraine’s Energy Minister, German Galushchenko, accused Russian forces of intentionally cutting the final power connection to the plant. He called the action a “deliberate threat to global nuclear security,” echoing past concerns raised by Ukrainian officials during previous incidents at the facility.
While ZNPP no longer generates electricity, its cooling systems remain essential to prevent overheating and radioactive leakage. Experts warn that emergency generators, though effective short-term, are not a sustainable safety measure in an active war zone.
Safety risks persist as blackout history repeats
The plant has faced at least eight prior full blackouts since the war began, often triggered by shelling or sabotage. One of the most serious incidents occurred in 2024, when a drone strike hit the plant’s sixth reactor dome.
Although the containment structure was not breached, the IAEA said the strike could have compromised long-term safety if repeated.
More recently, inspectors reported no indication that Russian forces intended to restart the plant. However, there has been no progress on proposals to demilitarize the nuclear site or restore stable electricity lines from Ukrainian-controlled territory.
Europe’s largest nuclear plant remains in conflict zone crossfire
The Zaporizhzhia facility, Europe’s largest nuclear plant, is situated less than 35 miles from the city of Zaporizhzhia and around 80 miles upriver from the Kakhovka Dam. Both Russia and Ukraine have traded accusations of targeting the plant and endangering nuclear safety.
As the war drags on, the IAEA and international watchdogs continue to issue warnings about the mounting risk of an uncontrolled event at ZNPP.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said, “Every loss of off-site power brings us one step closer to potential disaster.”
This is a developing story. More updates will follow as new information becomes available.
