Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Loses External Power for the 16th Time This Year
The Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine was fully cut off from the power grid on 8 November. It is the 16th complete loss of external power since the start of 2026.
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in southern Ukraine lost all external power at 02:36 on 8 November, according to Energoatom, Ukraine's state-owned nuclear energy company. The plant, which is held by Russian forces, has now suffered a complete blackout 16 times this year.
What happened
The plant lost supply from its last functioning 330 kV power line, Ferrosplavna-1, which links it to the Ukrainian grid. An attempt to reconnect the line automatically failed. For now, the facility's own needs are covered only by backup diesel generators, Energoatom said.
Why it matters
The company stresses that the loss of external power poses a critical threat to nuclear and radiation safety. Operating in blackout mode creates a direct risk that essential systems and the cooling of nuclear fuel could fail if the diesel generators break down or run out of fuel, which could potentially lead to a radiation accident.
Earlier incidents
The source states that Russia is deliberately disabling the power lines that supply the plant. More than half of all cases of complete external power loss at the plant since 2022 have occurred during the past seven months.
