Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky raised alarms on Tuesday regarding the prolonged outage of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which has now been disconnected from the power grid for an alarming seven consecutive days. This situation has prompted Zelensky to issue a stark warning about the potential for a “critical” scenario, underscoring the grave implications for both the region and beyond.
In his daily address, Zelensky revealed that one of the backup diesel generators intended to sustain operations at the plant has malfunctioned. He emphasized the seriousness of the blackout, stating that it represents “a threat to everyone.” This prolonged outage marks the longest the plant has been offline since it was seized by Russian forces following their invasion in 2022.
“There has never been anything like this before,” Zelensky remarked, further stressing the urgency of the situation by labeling it “critical.” Both Moscow and Kyiv have engaged in a blame game over who is responsible for the dangers posed to the nuclear facility, which is the largest of its kind in Europe.
Zelensky accused Russian military operations of severing the power supply to the plant, claiming that it is now relying solely on electricity from temporary diesel generators as a result of ongoing attacks. He highlighted that the Russian military is obstructing the necessary repairs to power lines, creating a scenario that endangers not only those in the vicinity but potentially a larger audience.
The situation at the Zaporizhzhia plant has been precarious since it fell under Russian control. Before the conflict, the six reactors at the facility accounted for around 20% of Ukraine’s total electricity production. However, all reactors have been shut down since the beginning of the war. Despite this, continuous power is essential to maintain cooling systems and other safety protocols to prevent catastrophic failures that could lead to a nuclear incident.
In addition to the current blackout, the plant has faced numerous safety threats since the onset of the conflict, including recurring shelling incidents nearby, various power outages, and a shortage of qualified staff. Its location near the front lines, close to the city of Energodar along the Dnieper River, adds another layer of complexity to an already volatile environment.
The combination of these factors has raised concerns about the risk of a nuclear disaster, heightening tensions and underscoring the urgent need for a resolution to the ongoing conflict.
