Kyiv: The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest, remains in an increasingly fragile state as it continues to rely solely on emergency diesel generators to cool its reactors. The facility has been disconnected from the national grid for nine consecutive days, the longest such blackout since the outbreak of war, raising fears of a potential nuclear safety crisis.
According to Russian-installed officials managing the plant, the last external transmission line the Dneprovskaya line was knocked out by shelling in late September. Moscow has blamed Ukrainian forces for preventing repairs, while Kyiv has accused Russia of deliberately targeting the plant’s power infrastructure. The standoff has left the reactors dependent on a fleet of diesel engines, which are meant only for short-term emergency use.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the situation as “critical,” warning that one diesel unit had already failed. “The world cannot remain silent while a nuclear facility of this scale is forced to depend on backup power under wartime fire,” he said.
Although all six reactors at Zaporizhzhia are currently shut down, they still require constant cooling to prevent overheating of fuel and spent fuel pools. Without stable electricity, coolant circulation depends entirely on the diesel systems. Experts stress that if the generators run out of fuel, fail mechanically, or are damaged by fighting, the risk of a meltdown cannot be ruled out.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that radiation levels remain within safe limits, but its Director General Rafael Grossi voiced deep concern, calling this “the most protracted loss of off-site power the plant has faced.” He urged both sides to guarantee safe repairs and to avoid further military action in the vicinity of the site.
This latest incident marks the tenth time Zaporizhzhia has lost connection to external power since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. The facility, which fell under Russian control early in the war, has since become a flashpoint of military and political confrontation. Each blackout has reignited fears of a nuclear catastrophe reminiscent of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, though experts note that Zaporizhzhia’s reactors are of a different design with stronger safety features.
Still, the longer the plant runs on emergency systems, the greater the risks. Diesel fuel supplies are finite, and prolonged outages strain the backup units, making them more vulnerable to breakdowns.
The crisis has prompted renewed calls for demilitarizing the area around the plant. The IAEA has stationed inspectors at the site but continues to face obstacles in ensuring access to damaged infrastructure. Western governments have accused Moscow of “nuclear blackmail,” while Russia insists it is protecting the facility from Ukrainian attacks.
For Ukraine, the situation underscores the risks of Russia’s occupation of the plant, which once supplied nearly a fifth of the country’s electricity. For Russia, control of the plant remains a strategic lever, both militarily and politically, as the war grinds on with no end in sight.