Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Faces Longest Power Outage Amid Escalating Tensions

 

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southern Ukraine, Europe’s largest atomic facility, has been running on emergency diesel generators for more than a week after its last external power line was severed during heavy fighting. Russian-installed officials at the plant said backup systems are currently sufficient, but stressed that restoring external electricity is critical to ensure long-term safety.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that radiation levels remain normal and that the reactors, which are shut down, are stable as long as the generators continue to function. However, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi warned that the situation is “unsustainable” and urged both sides to allow urgent repairs to the damaged power lines.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has described the outage as “critical,” accusing Russian shelling of preventing restoration efforts. Moscow, in turn, has blamed Ukraine for the damage. The standoff underscores the growing risk of a nuclear accident, with the plant sitting just 500 kilometers from the site of the 1986 Chornobyl disaster.

For now, the facility remains stable, but experts caution that without restored external power, the risk of a meltdown cannot be ruled out.