Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Running on Emergency Generators as Power Outage Enters Second Week:

Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine – Emergency diesel generators are now the only source of power keeping critical cooling systems operational at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe's largest nuclear facility, as it enters its second week without external electricity. While international nuclear experts say there is no immediate threat, growing concern is mounting over the sustainability of the current situation. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that all six reactors at the facility remain shut down, and cooling for both the reactors and spent fuel pools is currently stable. However, the agency’s Director-General, Rafael Mariano Grossi, issued a stark warning. “It is clearly not a sustainable situation in terms of nuclear safety,” Grossi said. The backup diesel generators, which were designed for short-term emergency use, have now been running far longer than ever before. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, this prolonged reliance is pushing the plant’s systems beyond their intended limits. “The generators and the plant were not designed for this,” Zelensky said in a statement late Tuesday, describing the situation as “critical.” The Zaporizhzhia plant, one of the 10 largest nuclear power facilities in the world, has been under Russian control since shortly after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022. It has since become a focal point of international concern due to its proximity to active conflict zones and repeated disruptions to its power supply. 10th Power Loss Since War Began According to the IAEA, the plant lost its last external power connection on September 23, marking the 10th time this has happened since the war began. The damage to the power line occurred just 1.5 kilometers from the plant and is believed to be the result of nearby military activity. While Ukraine blames Russian artillery for the damage, the Kremlin has pushed back, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claiming it was Ukrainian shelling that caused the outage. “It is stupid to accuse the Russian side of shelling the plant it controls,” Peskov told reporters on Wednesday. The IAEA has attempted to maintain neutral ground, working with both sides in order to maintain access to Ukraine’s nuclear sites. Currently, Zaporizhzhia is the only one of Ukraine’s four nuclear plants under Russian control. Emergency Measures in Place—for Now Eight of the plant’s diesel generators are actively supplying power, while nine more are on standby and three are undergoing maintenance. The IAEA team stationed at the site reports that fuel reserves are sufficient to keep the generators running for more than 10 days, and efforts are underway to replenish supplies regularly. The facility is rotating use of the generators to reduce wear and ensure continuous operation. Despite this, experts stress the urgent need to restore stable off-site power to guarantee long-term safety. “The current status of the reactor units and spent fuel is stable as long as the emergency diesel generators are able to provide sufficient power,” Grossi said. “Nevertheless, it is extremely important that off-site power is restored.” Growing Global Concern The situation at Zaporizhzhia adds to broader security concerns across Europe, as fears of nuclear catastrophe persist amid ongoing war. On Wednesday, European leaders gathered in Denmark for two summits focused on security and defense, with Ukraine high on the agenda. The IAEA continues its diplomatic efforts to facilitate a solution, with Grossi confirming that discussions are ongoing with both Russian and Ukrainian officials to quickly reconnect the facility to the electrical grid. As the war shows no signs of ending, the risk to critical infrastructure like Zaporizhzhia remains high, and the international community is watching closely.

NEWS