On 8 November, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant completely lost its external electricity supply. For now, the plant’s own needs are being covered by backup diesel generators.
This was reported by Ukraine’s state nuclear operator Energoatom.
According to the company, at 02:36 the ZNPP lost power from the last operating 330 kV transmission line, “Ferrosplavna-1”. It was the line that maintained the plant’s connection to Ukraine’s power grid.
An attempt to automatically reclose the line was unsuccessful. As a result, the plant was left without external power, and its own needs are currently being met solely by backup diesel generators.
“This is already the 16th case of a complete loss of external power supply to the ZNPP since the start of 2026. A loss of power at the plant poses a critical threat to nuclear and radiation safety,” Energoatom stressed.
The company explained that operating in blackout mode creates a direct risk of failure of life-support systems and nuclear fuel cooling. Such a situation could arise if the diesel generators fail or their operating resource is exhausted. This, in turn, could lead to a radiation accident.
Energoatom adds that the systematic loss of external power supply is a consequence of the occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
“Restoring the plant’s nuclear and radiation safety is possible only if it is fully returned under the control of Ukraine and the lawful operator, Energoatom,” the company said.
- Russia has effectively turned the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Enerhodar into its own military base, intelligence reports.
- On the ZNPP site, where all six nuclear reactors are in a state of “cold shutdown”, the Russian occupying army has stationed military equipment directly in the turbine halls of power units 1, 2, 5 and 6.
- Previously, the IAEA reported that strikes were carried out on 19, 20 and 27 September against the nearby Zaporizhzhia Thermal Power Plant.
- As a result of the attacks, transformers were damaged that are important for supplying external power to the ZNPP.