Russia preparing dangerous reactor startup at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant - Ukraine's FM
Photo: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Russia is preparing to reconnect the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to its own energy system. The next step is a dangerous reactor startup, according to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
He said Russia deliberately cut off power to the Zaporizhzhia plant.
This was a manual disconnection "carried out as a test", as Russia prepares to reconnect the plant to its energy grid.
"Russia’s next step will be even more dangerous: restarting a reactor under occupation – without proper cooling, outside any license, beyond oversight. A reckless move only to serve Putin’s show of control," Sybiha said.
According to him, such reckless actions by Russia increase the risk of nuclear incidents.
The minister stressed that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant should be viewed as a military maneuver.
"Every action taken by Russia is not just a lethal risk, but also paves the way toward a catastrophe. The recent blackout at the Chornobyl NPP, caused by Russia’s strike on a substation, once again demonstrated how Moscow weaponizes nuclear safety," Ukrainian Foreign Minister said.
Sybiha noted that Ukraine is calling on the IAEA, its member states, and all relevant partners to take every possible measure, including security guarantees, temporary ceasefire windows, unhindered access for repair crews, and the provision of specialized equipment. This would allow for urgent repairs to the remaining backup line and the rapid restoration of multiple independent external power sources to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.
Blackout at Zaporizhzhia NPP
On September 23, Energoatom reported that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant experienced its tenth blackout since the start of the full-scale war. Russia deliberately refuses to reconnect the station to the power grid.
The company clarified that the last external power line linking the plant to Ukraine’s energy system had stopped working.
As a result, the plant switched to diesel generators.
Such a situation could lead to a nuclear accident, since external electricity is essential to cool the nuclear reactors.
Yesterday, the IAEA stated that the situation at the plant remains unstable due to the blackout, warning of a potential risk of nuclear fuel meltdown.
Ukraine’s State Nuclear Regulatory Agency stressed that without an external power supply, a nuclear accident at the plant is inevitable.
