Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Faces โescalating Risk as Power Outage Enters fourth Day
KYIV, Ukraine – The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), currently under Russian โคoccupation, is operating on emergency โขdiesel generators for a โฃfourth consecutive day following a complete disconnection from external power โขon Tuesday, September 23rd.This isโข the longest blackout the plant has experienced since โฃRussian forces seized control, sparking growing international concern โคover a potential nuclear โขaccident.
The outage, which began at 16:56 local โtime, has forced the plant โคto rely on its 18 available dieselโ generators to maintain critical cooling systems and safety functions. While Russian operators claim โคto have a 20-day supply of diesel โfuel, theโข International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director Rafael grossi has warned that the loss of external power considerably “increases the likelihood of a nuclear accident.”
“[Russia] is using the nuclear power station as aโข bargaining chip,” a Ukrainian โฃgovernment โofficial told โ The Guardian, reflecting a growing fear among Western experts and Kyiv that Moscow is deliberately escalating the crisis to solidify its control over the facility – Europe’s largest nuclear power โplant.Concernsโ are also mounting that Russia is considering restarting reactors despite the ongoing conflict and precarious safety โขsituation.
Critical Thresholdsโ and fukushima Parallels
Nuclearโ safety protocols, established in theโข wake of the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan, โdictateโ that a nuclear plant should be able to function without external power โfor upโ to 72โ hours. Though, Ukrainian sources emphasizeโ that this limit has โขnever been rigorously tested at the โZNPP.
The situation echoesโค the Fukushima crisis, where a loss of power following a major earthquake led to reactorโค overheating and a catastrophic meltdown. While the ZNPP reactors were already shutโฃ down, the continued reliance on diesel generatorsโ presents a rapidly diminishingโฃ safety margin. โShould the generators fail, Ukrainianโ sources warn that the nuclear โfuel in theโค six reactors could overheat uncontrollably within weeks, potentially triggering a meltdown.
Currently,โข seven of the available generators are operational, providing essential cooling. Though, theโข long-term viability โฃof this emergency power supply remains a critical concern.
A Historyโ of Disconnections & Intentional โDisruption?
This latest powerโ outage marksโ the tenth since Russian forces occupied the ZNPP. The disconnection occurred via the last remaining power line connected to the Ukrainian grid. The timing and circumstances haveโฃ fueled suspicions that the outage was โคnot accidental, but rather a deliberate act by Russia to exacerbate the situation.
The IAEAโ continues to โฃmonitor the situationโข closely, but access to the plant remains limited, hindering independent verification of safetyโ protocols and fuel supplies. The international community is urging restraint and calling for the immediate restoration of external power to the ZNPP to avertโ a potentially devastating nuclear incident.
Image: Getty Images – The external power supply to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, occupied by Russia.
Source: The Guardian with reference to the International Atomic Energy Agency and Ukrainian officials: [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/27/safety-fears-as-external-power-to-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-plant-still-out-after-three-days](https://www.theguardian.