The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southeastern Ukraine has been without external power for more than a week. The UN’s nuclear watchdog issued the warning. The plant is occupied by Russia. It relies on emergency diesel generators to cool its six non-operating reactors. The site has only a 10-day diesel supply.
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said diesel fuel is critical when a plant loses external power. The plant has not received diesel from its usual storage site in six months. However, it was supplied on Thursday and Friday from another location. The IAEA is now trying to negotiate a local ceasefire to allow repairs to power lines.
Zaporizhzhia is Europe’s largest nuclear plant. It has not produced electricity since September 2022. Still, the reactors must stay cool to prevent a meltdown. This is the 27th blackout at the plant since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.
The IAEA has had staff at the site since September 2022. Russia took control of the facility in March that year. Both sides regularly accuse each other of attacking the plant. It sits on the Dnipro River, which marks the front line.
On Friday, the IAEA reported three drone incidents at the plant that week. Two employees were injured. The agency did not say who launched the drones. Earlier this month, a drone strike near the plant killed one nuclear specialist and wounded 17. Russia blamed Ukraine. Ukrainian officials say Russian actions near the plant amount to nuclear blackmail against Ukraine and Europe.
Reference
Al Jazeera, “Ukrainian nuclear power plant without external power for over a week,” published August 29, 2026. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/29/ukrainian-nuclear-power-plant-without-external-power-for-over-a-week