Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant suffers another blackout, nuclear safety risks grow

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) has once again lost its external power supply and switched to diesel generators. This is the plant's 15th blackout since the beginning of 2026 and the 27th since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began.

Source: press service for Energoatom, Ukraine's state-owned nuclear energy company

Details: After the loss of external power, the plant's backup diesel generators automatically switched on to keep critical safety systems operating.

Energoatom Head Pavlo Kovtoniuk said that the condition of the diesel generators is a cause for concern. Their frequent use is accelerating equipment wear.

"Yet another blackout once again confirms that the situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant remains fragile. The risks to nuclear and radiation safety are increasing under the influence of incompetent Russian 'managers'," the press service said.

Energoatom stressed that the plant can only be operated safely and reliably after it is liberated from Russian occupation and returned to Ukrainian control and its lawful operator.

Background: Energoatom reported on 13 August that the ZNPP had experienced 26 blackouts, 14 of them during 2026. The company warned that regular switches to backup power were degrading the equipment.

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