Key power plant vital to safety at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant has come under attack, IAEA says

The Zaporizhzhia Thermal Power Plant, whose switchyard helps transmit electricity to the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), came under a "heavy attack" on the morning of 4 June.

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Details: The IAEA team at the ZNPP saw light smoke rising from the direction of the thermal power plant and heard the sound of military activity. The available information suggests that staff at the Zaporizhzhia Thermal Power Plant are sheltering.

The IAEA said the incident is deeply concerning because the ZNPP still depends on a single remaining power line for electricity. In recent weeks it has been disconnected several times, leaving the ZNPP to rely on emergency diesel generators to cool its six reactors.

The power line remains connected for now. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said the attack must stop immediately to avoid a prolonged loss of power at the ZNPP.

Background: On the night of 2-3 June, the ZNPP experienced its 17th blackout since being occupied by Russian forces and the fifth since the beginning of 2026.

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