The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported on Saturday that Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has lost off-site power for the 23rd time since Russia’s full-scale invasion began, further highlighting the precarious safety situation at Europe’s largest nuclear facility. The plant’s emergency diesel generators are currently providing the only source of electricity needed to keep its six reactors and spent fuel pools properly cooled.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi described the recurring power losses as deeply concerning, noting that each outage increases the risk of a potential nuclear accident. The Zaporizhzhia plant, which sits on the front lines of the war in southern Ukraine, has been under Russian occupation since March 2022 and has become one of the most dangerous flashpoints in the conflict.
The latest disruption was caused by damage to electrical infrastructure supplying the facility, though the exact cause of the substation attack remains disputed between Moscow and Kyiv. Russia has previously blamed Ukrainian shelling for power outages at the plant, while Ukraine has accused Russian forces of using the facility as a military staging ground and deliberately disrupting its power supply as leverage.
The Zaporizhzhia plant originally had access to ten separate external power lines before the war. Over the course of the conflict, those connections have been systematically destroyed or damaged, leaving the facility increasingly dependent on its backup diesel generators and limited repair work on damaged lines. The IAEA has repeatedly warned that the generators are not designed for indefinite operation and require regular refueling and maintenance.
“The situation at Zaporizhzhia remains untenable,” Grossi said in a previous statement. “Every time we lose off-site power, we move closer to a potential catastrophe. The nuclear safety and security principles that the IAEA has outlined must be implemented without further delay.” The agency has called for the establishment of a protected zone around the plant to prevent further attacks on critical infrastructure.
Ukraine’s state nuclear energy operator Energoatom said emergency protocols were activated immediately following the power loss and that all safety systems remained operational. However, the agency warned that prolonged reliance on diesel generators creates a cumulative risk, particularly during the winter months when heating demands increase and fuel resupply becomes more challenging.
The repeated power disruptions have intensified calls from the international community for a demilitarized zone around the plant. Western diplomats have proposed various frameworks for securing the facility, but negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have stalled over broader ceasefire terms. Meanwhile, IAEA inspectors who remain stationed at the plant continue to monitor conditions and report on safety violations.
The latest outage comes amid a broader escalation of attacks across Ukraine, with Russia launching massive missile barrages targeting Kyiv and other cities. As the conflict intensifies, the international community faces mounting pressure to find a lasting solution to the Zaporizhzhia crisis before a catastrophic nuclear event becomes inevitable.
Sources: IAEA, Anadolu Agency, The Independent
Author: Ukraine Desk
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