Kyiv (EFE).- Ukraine’s Energy Minister, German Galushchenko, announced on Friday that a Russian strike damaged the last functioning power line connecting the Russian-occupied Zaporizhia nuclear power plant to the Ukrainian grid. The incident has left the plant completely disconnected from the external power supply for the ninth time since the start of the full-scale invasion.
“An enemy attack caused a blackout at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant,” Galushchenko said in a statement on Facebook.
He specified that the affected line was the plant’s sole remaining link to the Ukrainian electrical grid.
According to Ukraine’s state news agency Ukrinform, the plant had already lost a secondary backup connection nearly two months ago.
The damaged line was the only remaining power source to maintain the critical cooling of its six reactors.
Without external electricity, nuclear safety systems rely on emergency backup generators.
Nuclear watchdog raises alarm
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed the incident on its social media platforms, stating that Zaporizhzhia NPP lost grid connection at 5:36 pm local time on Friday.
This marks the first complete disconnection since late 2023.
“This is another act of nuclear terrorism by the Russians,” Galushchenko added, accusing Moscow of deliberately endangering the region. “The plant has experienced total blackouts eight times before and has repeatedly been on the brink of disaster.”
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi called the current status “extremely precarious,” as the plant now depends entirely on emergency diesel generators.
Experts warn that reliance on these temporary systems is not sustainable and raises the risk of a nuclear accident.
Ongoing risk in occupied territory
Zaporizhzhia, Europe’s largest nuclear facility, has been under Russian control since Mar. 2022.
The site remains a flashpoint for international concern, with repeated incidents highlighting the vulnerability of nuclear infrastructure in conflict zones.
The IAEA has maintained a presence at the plant since 2022 and has repeatedly called for a demilitarized zone around the facility.
Friday’s disconnection has renewed calls from the agency for urgent safety guarantees and an end to hostilities near nuclear sites.
“The situation is fragile, and any further escalation could have serious consequences,” Grossi warned. “We continue to monitor developments and urge restraint to prevent a nuclear crisis.”
cph-mg/seo