Russian Strike Cuts Power to Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant in Ukraine

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Russian-occupied Ukraine has experienced a complete loss of external power for the ninth time during the conflict, forcing reliance on emergency diesel generators to maintain cooling systems essential for nuclear safety. Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko attributed the outage to Russian shelling that destroyed a critical power transmission line, describing the incident as 'nuclear terror.' The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed the power loss and highlighted the plant's extremely precarious safety situation, emphasizing the necessity of stable power to prevent radiation risks. Despite the reactors being shut down, the plant's cooling systems require continuous electricity, and the IAEA has maintained a permanent presence at the site since September 2022. This blackout underscores ongoing concerns about the risks posed by military actions around the largest nuclear facility in Europe, which remains under Russian control. Efforts to restore power are ongoing, with Ukrainian technicians actively working to reconnect the plant to the grid.