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The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine lost all external power sources for the 10th time since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, according to International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi.
Emergency generators at the facility have restored electricity to the plant, Grossi announced through the IAEA's social media account on X, the U.S.-based platform formerly known as Twitter.
The power outage heightens nuclear safety risks at Europe's largest nuclear facility, which has been under Russian control since March 2022. IAEA teams are investigating the cause of the latest incident, Grossi said.
The facility's six reactors have been in cold shutdown since Sep. 2022, but they still require power to operate critical safety and security systems. When external power is lost, the plant relies on emergency diesel generators as a backup.
The Zaporizhzhia plant, located in southeastern Ukraine, has faced repeated power disruptions throughout the conflict. External electricity is crucial for cooling nuclear fuel and maintaining safety systems, even when reactors are shut down.
The IAEA has maintained a permanent presence at the site since September 2022 to monitor safety conditions. Grossi has repeatedly warned that the plant faces constant nuclear safety risks due to military activities in the area.
Both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of shelling near the facility, raising international concerns about a potential nuclear accident. The plant supplied about 20% of Ukraine's electricity before the war.
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