Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant remains in blackout as Russia deliberately cuts power

Energoatom, Ukraine's national nuclear energy generating company, reports.

"For the second day in a row, the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP is forced to operate on diesel generators due to the loss of external power supply. This creates a critical situation that threatens the safety not only of Ukraine but also of European countries," the statement says.

Energoatom recalled that on September 23, as a result of another provocation by the Russian military, the power line that supplied the ZNPP from the Ukrainian power system was damaged. According to Ukrenergo, this line is in good working order on the territory controlled by Ukraine, and there are no technical obstacles to its use.

Despite this, the invading Russian forces are deliberately not connecting the station to the power supply, continuing a crude disinformation campaign against Ukraine. In this way, they are consciously endangering millions of people across the continent.

Energoatom noted that diesel generators are intended only for emergency power and are not capable of providing for the station's needs for a long time. Their shutdown could lead to a loss of control over the nuclear safety of the facility.

"We call on the international community and partners to increase pressure on the aggressor country. The station must be immediately returned to the control of its sole legitimate operator - Energoatom - to prevent a radiation and nuclear catastrophe," the company stressed.

Blackout at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

On September 23, Energoatom reported that the tenth blackout since the beginning of the full-scale war had occurred at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

The company clarified that the last external power line connecting the station to the Ukrainian energy system had stopped working.

Therefore, the ZNPP switched to power from diesel generators.

This situation could lead to a nuclear accident. External power is necessary for cooling the nuclear reactors.