Zaporizhzhia plant loses external power for 23rd time, IAEA says
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Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant lost its last external power line on Saturday, forcing it to rely on emergency diesel generators for nearly two hours, the International Atomic Energy Agency reported. The outage, the 23rd since Russia's full-scale invasion, occurred while IAEA monitors were warning of intensified military activity near the site. Greenpeace simultaneously released satellite analysis showing Russia is constructing a high-voltage line to potentially connect the plant to annexed territories.
External Power Loss
The last remaining external power line to the Zaporizhzhia plant failed on August 1, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi confirmed. Emergency diesel generators supplied backup power to reactor cooling systems for nearly two hours before external supply was restored. The cause of the outage remains unknown. This marks the 23rd time the plant has lost off-site power since Russian forces occupied the facility in April 2022.
Worsening Safety Conditions
Prior to the outage, IAEA observers had reported increased military activity near the plant and the city of Enerhodar, where much of the staff lives. The agency also documented prolonged internet disruptions and water supply problems at the site, warning these failures compound nuclear safety risks. The plant, Europe's largest, has been under Russian military control for over four years.
Russian Power Line Plans
Greenpeace Ukraine, after analyzing satellite images, stated that Russia is advancing construction of a high-voltage line along the M18 highway connecting Melitopol to Henichesk. The infrastructure could allow Russia to connect Zaporizhzhia to the energy grids of annexed Ukrainian territories, including Crimea, and southern Russian regions. Greenpeace nuclear specialist Jan Vande Putte said Rosatom views the plant as a cheaper alternative to building new reactors in Rostov and Krasnodar. However, a Ukrainian drone strike on a substation in Henichesk in early July 2026 temporarily disrupted the connection plans.
What's Next
The IAEA is expected to renew calls for access to the plant to investigate the outage cause and deteriorating conditions. It remains uncertain whether operations will be shifted to the Russian energy grid, a move Greenpeace warns could entrench Moscow’s control over the facility.
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Zaporizhzhia plant loses external power for 23rd time, IAEA says
