Smoke Near Russian-Occupied Zaporizhzhia Plant Triggers Regional Blackouts

Smoke was reported near the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant on July 19, 2025, with local sources attributing it to a nearby forest fire rather than an incident on the plant itself, while power outages were reported across several districts of Zaporizhzhia region. Ukrainian officials and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that the smoke posed no threat to nuclear safety and power lines connecting the plant to Ukraine's energy system remained stable, though the plant has faced multiple blackouts due to Russian shelling and damage to power infrastructure. Russian occupation authorities initially reported power outages but later said power was being restored. The Zaporizhzhia plant remains under Russian control since March 2022, with many Ukrainian staff refusing to cooperate, leading to the import of Russian personnel to operate the facility. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has repeatedly expressed concern over military activities near the plant, highlighting the risks posed by drone strikes and other hostilities around this critical nuclear site. In March 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump proposed transferring ownership of the Zaporizhzhia plant to the United States in discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, underscoring continued international focus on the plant’s security.