Russian Strike Triggers 19th Blackout at Occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant

Incident at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

According to Главком: The temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) experienced its 19th blackout since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The facility lost its external power supply and switched to emergency diesel generators. The incident occurred around 9:00 p.m. on June 10, when the plant lost its last remaining 330 kV backup transmission line, Ferrosplavna-1, following an attack on a substation on the opposite bank of the Dnipro River. This has raised serious concerns about power reliability at Europe’s largest nuclear power station.

To cool its six shut-down reactors and maintain critical nuclear safety functions, ZNPP relies on backup diesel generators. Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), noted that this latest event once again highlights the vulnerability of power supply to Europe’s biggest nuclear plant. In response to ongoing grid instability and Russian shelling, the IAEA has expanded its monitoring mission to two additional substations in Ukraine.

Negotiations Over the Zaporizhzhia Plant

The Zaporizhzhia plant remains a contentious issue in diplomatic talks, particularly regarding a U.S. proposal for a tripartite management arrangement involving Ukraine, the United States, and Russia-a framework outlined in point 12 of a peace agreement aimed at ending the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has emphasized that the plant’s future cannot be addressed in isolation, but must be considered as part of the broader territorial question.

This incident underscores the urgent need to ensure nuclear safety and stable power supply at the Zaporizhzhia plant, as any disruption could have severe consequences for Ukraine and the wider region. The involvement of international bodies like the IAEA in monitoring the situation reflects global concern over the security of nuclear facilities amid armed conflict.

The ongoing instability at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant raises critical concerns about energy security in the region. In a related incident, the IAEA has reported an attack on the Zaporizhzhia Thermal Plant, further complicating the energy landscape amid a series of blackouts at the nuclear facility. For more details on this alarming situation and its implications, visit the full report on the recent attack on the thermal plant.