Europe's largest nuclear power facility, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, is once again at the center of global anxiety as it endures its fifth consecutive day running solely on emergency diesel generators. The plant, located in Russian-occupied southeastern Ukraine near the embattled city of Enerhodar, has become a flashpoint in the ongoing conflict, with both sides blaming each other for the latest power outage that has left the facility dangerously exposed.
On September 27, 2025, Ukraine’s Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk confirmed that the plant remains in blackout mode after Russian shelling damaged the critical power transmission line connecting Zaporizhzhia to Ukraine’s national grid. This marks the tenth such incident since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022. According to Hrynchuk, “the plant continues to operate in a blackout mode,” underscoring the gravity of the situation as the facility relies on diesel backup to maintain essential cooling and safety systems.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been closely monitoring the crisis. Director Rafael Grossi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow earlier this week, attempting to broker a solution to the power crisis. Despite these high-level talks, the external power supply remains cut, and the plant’s vulnerability is as pronounced as ever. The IAEA has repeatedly warned that a prolonged loss of external power could lead to a catastrophic nuclear incident reminiscent of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, especially if the reactor core or spent fuel pools overheat due to a lack of cooling.
Greenpeace Ukraine has been particularly vocal about the risks. Jan Vande Putte, the group’s radiation and nuclear energy specialist, described the use of emergency diesel generators as “a last line of defense to be used only in extreme circumstances.” He added that the ongoing crisis represents “some of the most serious threats since the Russian occupation began in March 2022.” Greenpeace has also accused Russia of deliberately orchestrating the plant’s disconnection from Ukraine’s grid to further its ambitions of integrating the facility into the Russian-controlled power network in occupied Ukrainian territory.
Satellite imagery analyzed by Greenpeace supports these suspicions, suggesting that Russian authorities may be preparing to restart at least one of the plant’s six reactors. Observers have noted the construction of extensive new power line infrastructure, apparently aimed at reconnecting Zaporizhzhia to the Russian-controlled grid nearby. This move could allow Russia to supply electricity to annexed Crimea and other occupied regions, a scenario previously hinted at by the Moscow-appointed plant director, Yuri Chernichuk. In January, Chernichuk told Russian media that Zaporizhzhia could potentially provide power to Crimea and other occupied parts of southern and eastern Ukraine. Earlier this month, he said that integration with the Russian network was in its final stages.
Since the start of the war, Zaporizhzhia has faced a litany of safety threats: repeated shelling, frequent power cuts, and ongoing staff shortages. The plant’s six reactors, which once produced about a fifth of Ukraine’s electricity, have been shut down since Russia seized control in early 2022. Despite this, the facility still requires a stable source of power to operate its cooling and safety systems. Without these, the risk of a meltdown looms large.
The Moscow-backed operator of Zaporizhzhia reported on Telegram that, as of September 23, 2025, the plant had switched to backup diesel generators due to the grid’s failure. The operator insisted that there were “sufficient” reserves of diesel to operate for an extended period, though no specific timeline was provided. The statement did little to allay international fears, as diesel supplies are finite and the logistical challenges of restocking fuel in a war zone are formidable.
Both Kyiv and Moscow have traded accusations over responsibility for the attacks on the power lines. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga stated on X (formerly Twitter), “As a result of Russian actions, the Zaporizhzhia NPP has been without power for the fourth day.” Russia, for its part, claims that Ukrainian attacks on the grid were to blame. This mutual finger-pointing has become routine, but the stakes remain anything but ordinary, with the specter of a nuclear catastrophe never far from the surface.
Amid the nuclear standoff, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a major $90 billion arms deal with the United States. The agreement, unveiled on September 27, 2025, includes not only advanced long-range weapons but also the direct purchase of Ukrainian-made drones. Zelenskyy emphasized that “practical discussions have commenced” regarding Ukraine’s military needs, signaling a deepening of military cooperation between Kyiv and Washington. The deal is expected to bolster Ukraine’s defensive and offensive capabilities as the war drags on.
Zelenskyy also shifted attention to Hungary, accusing the neighboring country of conducting covert drone operations over Ukrainian territory—a charge Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto swiftly dismissed as unfounded. The diplomatic spat highlights the complex web of alliances and suspicions that have emerged in the region since the conflict began.
Adding another layer to Ukraine’s defense, Zelenskyy revealed that an Israeli Patriot air defense system has been operational within the country for the past month, with two more such systems anticipated to arrive soon. While Israel’s Defense Ministry has declined to comment on the deployment, the presence of these advanced systems could play a crucial role in protecting Ukrainian infrastructure from aerial attacks.
For residents of Enerhodar and the surrounding areas, the situation at the Zaporizhzhia plant is a constant source of anxiety. The facility’s proximity to the front line means that blackouts and emergency shutdowns have become almost routine—though this latest outage is the longest yet, and experts warn that the risk of an incident grows with each passing day. The plant’s continued reliance on diesel generators is, as Greenpeace Ukraine put it, an “extreme measure” that cannot be sustained indefinitely.
As the war grinds on, the fate of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant remains a potent symbol of the broader conflict: a critical asset caught in the crossfire, its safety hanging by a thread. The international community, led by organizations like the IAEA, continues to press for a resolution that will secure the plant and prevent a disaster with consequences far beyond Ukraine’s borders. For now, however, the crisis lingers, and the world watches with bated breath.
