Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Once Again on Brink of Blackout Due to Russian Shelling

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) was on the verge of blackout again because of Russia’s shelling.

On September 2, 2024, Russian shelling damaged one of the two external overhead lines through which the temporarily occupied ZNPP receives power from the Ukrainian power system to meet its own needs.

In the event of damage to the second line, an emergency situation will arise due to the loss of external power to the pumps that cool the active zones of the reactors and fuel storage pools of the ZNPP.

“Ukrainian experts cannot yet inspect the damaged site and start repairing the line, because of the threat of repeated shelling of the site by Russian troops. The line will be repaired as soon as the specialists are guaranteed safety,” wrote Energoatom, a Ukrainian enterprise operating all four nuclear power plants in Ukraine.

on August 22, Russian shelling also damaged an external overhead line through which the ZNPP received power from the Ukrainian power system and was on the verge of blackout.

Since March 4, 2022, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been under Russian occupation. During this time, Russian forces have repeatedly violated nuclear safety principles by preventing qualified personnel from working and cutting off power lines from the Ukrainian energy system.