Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant suffers repeated power outages, prompting safety concerns from IAEA

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has suffered repeated power outages, losing external power 24 times since the Russian invasion in February 2022, with half of these incidents occurring in the past four months. On August 8, 2026, the plant lost power twice, forcing a temporary reliance on emergency diesel generators. In response to these vulnerabilities and ongoing military activity, operators have begun increasing water levels in the used fuel pools to delay potential boiling during prolonged blackouts.

Zaporizhzhia NPP power outages

• ▪Since February 2022, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has lost access to external power 24 times, with 12 of those outages occurring between April and August 2026.
• ▪On Saturday, August 8, 2026, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant lost external power twice when the 330 kV L-243 "Ferosplavna–ZaTES No. 1" overhead power line disconnected.
• ▪The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is currently relying on a single 330 kV backup power line, as its main 750 kV Dniprovska power line has been unavailable since March 2026.
• ▪The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant experienced its 12th blackout of 2026 on August 4, 2026, during which it operated on emergency diesel generators.

Military activity near facility

• ▪International Atomic Energy Agency experts at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant reported hearing military activity, including explosions, several times a day close to the site.
• ▪Ongoing military activity in the area has created challenges in resupplying the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant's diesel fuel stores for its emergency generators.

Used fuel pool levels

• ▪The work to increase water levels in the used fuel pools at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant began during the week of August 7, 2026, with International Atomic Energy Agency experts present to observe.
• ▪Operators at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant decided to increase water levels in the used fuel pools to buy more time before water boils off during a prolonged power loss.

IAEA safety monitoring

• ▪International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi renewed calls for maximum military restraint around all Ukrainian nuclear power plants and their associated electrical infrastructure.
• ▪International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi stated that the rising number of off-site power cuts at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is deeply concerning and unsustainable.

Russian occupation since 2022

• ▪Russian forces have occupied and controlled the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe's largest nuclear facility, since March 2022.
• ▪Ukrainian state nuclear operator Energoatom stated that the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant's continued operation under illegal Russian control remains a constant threat to nuclear and radiation safety.
• ▪All six reactors at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant have been shut down since the 2022 occupation, with the final unit placed in cold shutdown in April 2024.