The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine has been without an external power source for more than a week. The plant, controlled by Russia since 2022, now relies on emergency diesel generators to maintain operations.
The plant needs electricity to cool six reactors that are currently shut down, and fuel reserves are only sufficient for 10 days, according to an IAEA statement. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stressed: "Having adequate diesel fuel is of paramount importance when a nuclear power plant loses its external power grid."
The IAEA said the Zaporizhzhia plant has not received fuel from its external storage depot for about six months, but diesel shipments were delivered from another site on Thursday and Friday last week. The agency is currently seeking to negotiate a localized ceasefire to allow repairs to power transmission lines.
Zaporizhzhia is Europe's largest nuclear power plant. It has not generated electricity since September 2022, but the reactors still must be cooled to prevent the risk of fuel melting inside. This is the 27th power outage at the plant since Russia launched its full-scale military operation in Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials have repeatedly accused Russia of nuclear terrorism against Ukraine and Europe through its activities at the plant. Meanwhile, both conflict sides regularly accuse each other of attacks on the area, which sits on the banks of the Dnipro River that serves as the front-line boundary.
On Friday, the IAEA reported three drone-related incidents at the plant during the week, injuring two staff members. Earlier, a drone strike near the plant killed one nuclear specialist and wounded 17 others.
