As a result of a Russian strike, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has lost power from one of the two external power lines connecting the occupied ZNPP to Ukraine’s unified energy system.
This was reported by the press service of Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy.
According to the ministry, the Zaporizhzhia NPP is currently receiving electricity through only one transmission line. The supply of external power necessary for the plant’s safe operation is once again under threat.
If completely disconnected from the power system, the ZNPP could experience another blackout, posing a serious risk to radiation safety.
"Due to the Russian strike, one of the power lines connecting the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP to the Ukrainian power grid has once again been cut off. As soon as the security situation allows, energy workers will do everything possible to restore power to the plant as quickly as possible. The de-occupation of the station is the key to its safe operation," said Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko.
The Ministry of Energy reminded that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the ZNPP has already gone through a total blackout 8 times and has repeatedly been on the brink of one.
As a reminder, Russian forces seized the Zaporizhzhia NPP in March 2022, after occupying the satellite city of Enerhodar. The Russian forces later mined auxiliary facilities of the plant and stationed military equipment there.
All reactor units were subsequently placed in a state of "cold shutdown." Over the course of the three-year full-scale war, the plant has repeatedly lost power for its internal needs due to Russian shelling damaging power lines.
