Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant in Crisis Mode
For five consecutive days, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant—the largest in Europe—has been operating without external electricity, relying solely on backup diesel generators to keep its six offline reactors from overheating. The outage, which began on Wednesday, September 25, 2025, has reignited fears of a potential nuclear disaster amid escalating accusations between Russia and Ukraine.
Who’s to Blame?
- Ukraine claims Russia deliberately cut the last functioning power line to justify reconnecting the plant to the Russian grid.
- Russia insists Ukrainian artillery fire damaged the line, making repairs too dangerous.
With both sides entrenched in their narratives, international observers—including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)—warn that the situation is “critical” and growing more unstable by the hour.
Infographic: Zaporizhzhia Plant – Key Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Southeastern Ukraine (Russian-occupied since March 2022) |
| Reactors | 6 (all shut down since September 2022) |
| External Power Lines Originally | 10 |
| Functional Lines Before Outage | 2 (both from Ukraine-controlled territory) |
| Current Power Source | Diesel backup generators |
| Diesel Reserves (IAEA Estimate) | Enough for ~10 days |
Why This Matters
Even though the reactors are offline, they still produce decay heat and require continuous cooling. A prolonged loss of power could lead to a meltdown—though experts estimate it would take weeks, not hours, for such a scenario to unfold.
However, the human factor compounds the risk: former plant workers have reported torture and coercion under Russian occupation, raising concerns about stress-induced operational errors.
Russia’s Suspected Endgame
In May 2025, Russia’s state nuclear agency, Rosatom, announced plans to restart the Zaporizhzhia reactors and feed electricity into the Russian grid. Satellite imagery shows new power pylons being constructed near the site—suggesting preparations are already underway.
“This power outage may be a manufactured crisis,” said Shaun Burnie, senior nuclear specialist at Greenpeace Ukraine. “Russia could be creating a pretext to cut ties with Ukraine’s grid and legitimize a switch to Russian infrastructure.”
Geopolitical Fallout
The Trump administration has previously floated the idea of U.S. oversight of the plant post-war, potentially using it to power mining ventures in a rebuilt Ukraine. If Russia successfully integrates Zaporizhzhia into its own energy network, such plans could collapse—altering the trajectory of future peace talks.
