Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Faces Critical Power Outage Amid Ukraine Conflict

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Russian-occupied Ukraine has been operating solely on emergency diesel generators after a week-long external power outage caused by fighting nearby, raising international safety concerns. Ukrainian President Zelensky described the situation as "critical," noting that one diesel generator has failed, while Russia's installed operators claim the situation is "under control" and radiation levels remain normal. Both Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of obstructing repairs to the severed power lines through ongoing shelling. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) emphasized the urgency of restoring external power to maintain cooling systems essential for safe plant operation, cautioning that reliance on diesel generators is not sustainable. Despite all reactors being shut down, the plant still requires electricity to prevent nuclear accidents, making the prolonged power outage the longest such event during the conflict. The IAEA continues to engage with both sides to facilitate the swift reconnection of the plant to the electricity grid to avert potential disaster.