Russia on Wednesday declared that the situation at the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine was “under control,” despite global concerns following its longest power outage since the war began. Officials confirmed that the facility had enough fuel to keep backup generators functioning and that radiation levels remained within safe limits, stressing continuous communication with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The plant, Europe’s largest atomic energy facility, has been in cold shutdown since Moscow seized it in 2022. However, it lost connection to Ukraine’s power grid on September 23, marking the tenth and lengthiest blackout since the conflict started. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned earlier this week that the situation was “critical,” citing a malfunction in one of the diesel generators relied upon for emergency electricity.
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Meanwhile, the UN’s nuclear watchdog attempted to calm fears, explaining that while there was no immediate danger, relying solely on backup generators was not sustainable for long-term nuclear safety. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi emphasized that emergency generators serve as the “last line of defence” and urged both sides to allow swift reconnection of the facility to the national grid.
Concerns remain high because Zaporizhzhia’s reactors, which once supplied nearly 20 percent of Ukraine’s electricity, still require constant power to run essential cooling and safety systems. Without them, experts warn, the risk of overheating and a potential release of radiation into the atmosphere becomes dangerously high. Both Moscow and Kyiv continue to accuse each other of attacks that threaten the plant’s safety.
The Russian-installed administration assured that fuel reserves would last at least ten more days, with offsite supplies replenishing stocks as needed. Nevertheless, repeated shelling in surrounding areas, shortages of skilled staff, and uncertainty about stable power supplies underline the fragile state of security at the site.
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Located near the frontline city of Energodar on the Dnieper River, the nuclear plant has faced ongoing risks since the war began. With both Russia and Ukraine trading blame for endangering nuclear safety, the Zaporizhzhia facility remains one of the most volatile flashpoints of the ongoing conflict, prompting urgent calls from international authorities for restraint.