Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant left with only one power supply line again, Reuters says

Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, which has been under the control of Russian forces since March 2022, is not generating electricity now. However, the facility critically depends on stable external power supplies to cool its nuclear fuel.

If both external lines are lost, the Zaporizhzhia NPP would be forced to switch to backup diesel generators, considered the last safeguard before the risk of a nuclear accident.

The Russian administration claims radiation levels at the plant remain normal and says repair work will begin as soon as possible.

Blackouts at Zaporizhzhia NPP

Russia's occupation of the Zaporizhzhia NPP has been ongoing since March 2022. Russian forces have repeatedly created threats to nuclear safety.

Russian troops have deployed military equipment and personnel on the plant's territory, shelled nearby areas, causing power outages, ignored nuclear safety requirements, and attempted to integrate the facility into Russia's energy system. Russian forces have also staged provocations and forced staff to work under coercive contracts.

Due to the dangerous situation, Ukraine's state nuclear operator Energoatom has repeatedly urged the international community to increase pressure on Russia to prevent a nuclear disaster.

On November 19, Ukrainian energy workers restored power supply to the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia plant after it had remained without electricity for an extended period due to damage to a high-voltage line caused by a Russian attack.

Earlier, on September 23, Energoatom reported the tenth full blackout at the plant since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. Russian forces deliberately did not reconnect the plant to Ukraine's power grid, while the only transmission line linking it to the Ukrainian system failed, leaving the facility without power for nearly a month.

On December 6, reports also said the Zaporizhzhia NPP temporarily lost power from external sources.