Russia Cuts Power to Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plants, Endangering Europe’s Safety

The Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine has been disconnected from the power grid.

“FILE - A view of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station, in Enerhodar, Zaporizhzhia region, in territory under Russian military control, southeastern Ukraine, on May 1, 2022”

WJBF

Both Russia and Ukraine blame each other for the blackout.

WJBF

The plant's six reactors, which previously supplied about 20% of Ukraine's electricity, were shut down after Moscow took control.

Despite being offline, the plant requires power to maintain cooling and safety systems to prevent a meltdown and radiation release.

Ukrainian President Zelensky described the situation as "critical," noting a malfunction in one of the backup diesel generators.

The Moscow-installed operator claimed the situation was "under control."

The plant, located near the frontline city of Energodar on the Dnieper River, has faced multiple safety threats since the war began.

These threats include shelling, power cuts, and staff shortages.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of threatening global security after a Russian shelling attack cut electricity to the defunct Chernobyl nuclear plant.

The power outage forced the site to rely on two diesel generators to keep the New Safe Confinement (NSC) structure—designed to contain radioactive material from the 1986 disaster—powered.

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The UN's atomic energy agency confirmed the blackout affected the NSC, which protects the environment from radioactive debris.

This incident follows a recent power loss at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, raising international concerns about the safety of Ukraine's nuclear facilities amid ongoing conflict.

Zelensky condemned Russia for prolonging the war and targeting critical energy infrastructure, emphasizing the global risks posed by these attacks.

Western capitals remain deeply concerned about military threats to nuclear facilities amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

“EN EN Zelensky said that a Russian drone strike on an energy substation in Slavutych on Wednesday caused a blackout at the site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster”

Kyiv Post

Both sides claim they aim to prevent any nuclear accidents.

Russian-installed managers at the affected plant assert that all safety protocols are being followed and have not challenged the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) assessments.

However, experts warn that relying on diesel backup generators is only a temporary measure and not a sustainable solution.

Restoring the plant’s external power supply—either by safely repairing the existing power line or establishing a new connection—is critical to averting a potential nuclear disaster described by experts as a “nuclear time bomb” on the frontline.

The situation is fluid, with updates from multiple reputable news sources and statements from Ukrainian President Zelenskiy and IAEA head Rafael Grossi confirming ongoing concerns as of early October 2025.

The ongoing Russian bombardment of Ukraine’s power infrastructure is raising serious safety concerns for the country’s nuclear facilities.

A recent drone attack caused a blackout lasting over three hours at the Chernobyl site.

Daily Mail

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant—the largest in Europe and under Russian control—has been disconnected from the power grid for more than a week.

Both sites require continuous power to maintain cooling systems for spent fuel rods and to operate radiation monitoring equipment, making power outages a significant nuclear safety risk.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of deliberately threatening nuclear safety and criticized the U.N. nuclear watchdog for insufficient action.

The Zaporizhzhia plant is currently running on emergency diesel generators, with experts warning that prolonged power loss could lead to radioactive releases.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest, remains in a critical state more than a week after losing external power due to shelling amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

“Ukraine’s Chernobyl and Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plants lost power on Wednesday after nearby Russian attacks, raising international safety concerns”

France 24

The plant, seized by Russia in 2022 and located near the front lines, is currently running on emergency diesel generators to power cooling systems for its six reactors, which are not producing electricity.

France 24

Ukraine blames Russian shelling for the power outage, while Russia accuses Ukraine of attacks.

The outage, the longest and tenth since the war began, poses significant nuclear safety risks, with Ukrainian and international officials warning of potential disaster if power is not restored.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is in constant contact with both sides, emphasizing that the generators are a temporary and unsustainable solution.

Despite Russian assurances that the situation is under control, Ukrainian authorities highlight the severe threat to nuclear and radiation safety caused by ongoing shelling and obstruction of repair efforts.