Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Without External Power for Over a Week

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station in southeastern Ukraine has been without off-site power for more than a week, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This is the 27th time since Russia invaded Ukraine that the plant has had to rely on emergency diesel supplies. The plant, which has been occupied by Russia since 2022, is currently using emergency diesel generators to maintain cooling for its six non-operating reactors. The IAEA stated that the plant has only a 10-day diesel supply on site. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi emphasized the importance of diesel fuel availability in the event of a loss of off-site power. The plant has not received a delivery from an off-site storage facility in about six months but was supplied with diesel from another location on Thursday and Friday. The IAEA is negotiating a local ceasefire to facilitate repairs to electrical lines. The Zaporizhzhia plant, the largest nuclear power facility in Europe, has not generated electricity since September 2022, following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February of that year. Ukraine’s deputy head of military law enforcement, Gyunduz Mamedov, noted that this blackout is the 27th since the invasion began. The IAEA has maintained a permanent presence at the site since September 2022. Both Ukraine and Russia accuse each other of attacking the facility, which is located on the banks of the Dnipro River. Recently, the IAEA reported three drone incidents at the plant that resulted in injuries to two employees, without specifying who was responsible for the drone launches. Earlier this month, a drone strike near the plant resulted in one death and 17 injuries, with Russia claiming that Ukraine was responsible. Ukrainian officials have expressed concerns that Russian actions around the plant amount to nuclear blackmail against Ukraine and Europe.