Another blackout occurred at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant
The temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has once again lost its external power supply, causing the plant to switch to diesel generators. This was caused by the shutdown of the “Ferosplavna” transmission line, which connected the Zaporizhzhia NPP to Ukraine’s Unified Power System. Energoatom emphasizes that the situation remains a threat to nuclear safety.
According to the company, the “Ferosplavna” overhead power line was disconnected at 4:46 p.m., after which the Zaporizhzhia NPP completely lost its external power supply. “As a result of the loss of external power, the Zaporizhzhia NPP switched to diesel generators to meet its own power needs,” the Energoatom statement reads.
Energy officials explain that even a brief loss of external power poses serious risks, as electricity is essential for the operation of nuclear fuel cooling systems and other critically important safety mechanisms. Energoatom emphasizes that every such incident increases the threat to nuclear and radiation safety, especially given the occupation of the plant by Russian troops.
The company also stresses that the current state of the facility remains unstable and potentially dangerous, as any disruption to the power supply could have critical consequences. “The only way to ensure the safe operation of the Zaporizhzhia NPP is to return it as soon as possible to the full control of Ukraine and its sole legitimate operator — JSC “NAEK ‘Energoatom’ — which is capable of ensuring the plant’s safe and stable operation in accordance with international nuclear safety standards,” the company’s statement reads.
Currently, the plant continues to operate on backup diesel generators, which provide the minimum power necessary to support key systems. The situation at the facility remains under constant monitoring. NAEK “Energoatom” reported this on its Telegram channel.
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has once again been left without an external power supply due to Russian attacks. According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy, this is already the 20th time since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion that the plant has lost connection to the power grid—this time due to damage to the 330-kV “Ferosplavna-1” power line.
