Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant 'Blackout' Warning Issued by Ukraine

The Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) is on the verge of a blackout after being attacked by Russian forces, Ukrainian atomic-energy operator Energoatom warned on Friday.

Russian shelling on Thursday damaged a power line supplying electricity to the nuclear plant, Energoatom said in a statement on its Telegram channel.

"Europe's largest nuclear power plant is again on the verge of blackout," it warned.

The nuclear plant—Europe's largest—has been under Russian control since early March 2022, just days after Russian President Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. It was one of the first sites to be seized by Russian forces.

The ZNPP's six reactors have been in shutdown mode since September 2022. Its one remaining power line is supplying the electricity needed to prevent a reactor meltdown.

When the ZNPP was seized by Russian forces in March 2022, there was widespread concern about a potential nuclear catastrophe at the plant as Ukrainian and Russian forces clashed in the region. Both Ukraine and Russia have accused each other's forces of attacking the plant.

"Under the 'management' of the Russian invaders, who are at the temporarily occupied ZNPP, degradation is constantly deepening in all areas of operation," Energoatom said.

The atomic-energy operator pointed to a fire which was reported at the plant earlier this month, the cause of which remains unclear.

Russia and Ukraine accused each other of starting that fire. On August 11, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the fire was started by Russian forces, while the Kremlin-installed governor of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Yevhen Balitsky, accused Ukraine of being behind the blaze.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a statement at the time that "strong dark smoke" had been observed "coming from ZNPP's northern area following multiple explosions heard in the evening."

"Team was told by ZNPP of an alleged drone attack today on one of the cooling towers located at the site," the agency said on X, formerly Twitter. "No impact has been reported for nuclear safety."

Anton Gerashchenko, a former adviser to Ukraine's minister of internal affairs, said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the ZNPP has "already experienced eight full blackouts and one partial blackout - with the launch of emergency diesel generators and safety systems," since the Ukraine war began.

Zaporizhzhia is one of the four Ukrainian regions that Putin proclaimed to have annexed in the fall of 2022, following referendums that were deemed illegal under international law and condemned by the United Nations.

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