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Ukrainian Foreign Minister and IAEA Director General Discuss Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Safety in Phone Call

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on August 22 that he had a phone call with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi, during which the two sides focused on the current nuclear safety situation in Ukraine, particularly the safety status of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Sybiha stated that the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is currently under Russian control, and the related military presence remains a major source of nuclear safety risk. The two sides exchanged views on issues related to the plant and emphasized the need for close coordination based on respect for Ukraine's sovereignty and international law. Sybiha also noted that he values Grossi's personal engagement in relevant matters, as well as...

2026-08-24

Investigation Underway into Cause of External Power Supply Interruption at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

On August 20, Chernichuk, the head of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, stated that the cause of the external power supply interruption at the plant is still under investigation, with relevant experts inspecting transmission lines to identify possible fault points. Chernichuk noted that the specific cause and location of the line damage remain unclear. Experts from the plant are conducting inspections along the lines to locate the fault; according to Ukrainian sources, their experts are also carrying out related inspection work. Earlier, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant reported that due to the interruption of the external power supply line, the plant switched to the backup power supply system on the morning of the 20th and activated diesel generators. The report also stated that the 330 kV high-voltage transmission line "Ferroalloy-1" was disconnected from the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant due to damage...

2026-08-21

Grossi's Visit to Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Postponed

Chernichuk, the head of Russia's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, stated that the visit by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Grossi to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been postponed, with a new date yet to be determined. Chernichuk noted that, to his understanding, the visit will be rescheduled for a later time, but the specific timing remains unclear. On August 18, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zakharova stated that the Ukrainian side had affected Grossi's planned visit to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and the city of Energodar, originally scheduled for August 20-21. The trip was originally planned to coincide with the routine rotation of the IAEA expert team stationed at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant...

2026-08-21

Date for Grossi's Next Visit to Russia Yet to Be Determined

Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, stated that the specific date for Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to visit Russia again has not yet been determined. Earlier, Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said that Grossi had planned to visit the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and the city of Enerhodar on August 20-21, but the trip was interrupted by the Ukrainian side. Currently, no further information has been released by the Russian side regarding Grossi's next visit arrangements.

2026-08-19

Repeated Power Outages at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Raise Concerns over Equipment Aging and Safety Risks

August 13 news, the issue of repeated interruptions to the external power supply at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant continues to draw attention. Relevant data shows that since February 2022, the plant has experienced 26 power outages, 14 of which occurred in the first 8 months of 2026. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. Once the external power supply is interrupted, the plant must switch to backup power to maintain the operation of essential safety systems. Frequent switching of power supply modes not only increases operational pressure but also poses additional risks to nuclear safety and radiation safety. Relevant parties have stated that signs of equipment aging at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant are intensifying, with the condition of diesel generator sets being particularly concerning. The backup diesel generator sets are generally...

2026-08-15

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Launches Major Overhaul of Damaged Diesel Generator

On August 14 local time, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) stated that it has launched a major overhaul of a damaged diesel generator unit to ensure the plant's independent power supply capability in the event of an external power outage. The plant stated that maintenance work is currently progressing as planned, with a focus on the upkeep and repair of equipment related to safety systems. The diesel generator unit under repair is one of the independent power sources for the safety systems. Previously, during a complete interruption of external power supply, the backup diesel generator units provided power support for the plant to maintain essential safety functions. According to reports, experts on site have begun disassembling and inspecting the main components of the diesel generator unit to determine which parts need replacement or repair...

2026-08-15

Ukraine and IAEA to Strengthen Nuclear Safety Coordination

Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi held an online meeting, focusing on further strengthening nuclear and radiation safety cooperation amid the war. Ukraine hopes to achieve independent assessments of risks and operational status of critical energy infrastructure and develop more protective measures through closer international coordination. The talks come against the backdrop of sustained security pressures on Ukraine's energy facilities. The Ukrainian side emphasized that a stably operating power system is not only vital to public electricity supply but also directly affects the safety assurance of nuclear power plants and related facilities. The IAEA has previously conducted expert work at multiple energy facilities in Ukraine...

2026-08-12

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to Raise Spent Fuel Pool Water Levels to Mitigate Power Outage Risks

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated that the operator of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has decided to raise the water levels in the spent fuel pools on site to enhance safety buffer capacity in the event of a prolonged loss of external power. The primary purpose of raising the water levels is to extend the time before water in the spent fuel pools begins to boil and evaporate under extreme conditions where external power to the plant is interrupted for an extended period, diesel reserves are depleted, and emergency diesel generators can no longer supply power to the cooling systems. Spent fuel pools are used to store used nuclear fuel underwater, typically for at least five years, allowing its radioactivity and residual heat to gradually decay, making continuous cooling a critical element of nuclear safety. All six units at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant...

2026-08-08

Putin Signs Decree Posthumously Awarding "Order of Courage" to Chief Engineer of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently signed a decree posthumously awarding the Order of Courage to Alexander Yakovlev, chief engineer of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, who was killed in an attack, in recognition of his bravery demonstrated in the line of duty. According to previously released information, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on July 15 stating that a service vehicle of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant was attacked by a drone that day, and Yakovlev was killed in the attack. The statement said the attack posed a threat to the safe operation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is one of the larger nuclear power facilities in Europe, and its operational safety has long drawn external attention...

2026-08-05

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Briefly Loses External Power, Restored via 330 kV Line

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported on August 4 that the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant briefly lost external power supply that day. This marked the 24th occurrence of external power interruption at the plant since the outbreak of the related conflict. According to the report, the plant lost connection with the Ferrosplavnaya-1 transmission line, currently the only one still in service, in the afternoon, and emergency diesel generators provided backup power thereafter. The IAEA stated that the cause of the incident remains unclear. The plant management said the brief external power interruption was related to a technical fault in the automatic control system, and power supply was restored in less than an hour. Currently, the plant's auxiliary power is supplied by the 330 kV Fer...

2026-08-05

IAEA Inspects Ukrainian Energy Company Substations

On August 3, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) completed its latest inspection of key substations belonging to a Ukrainian energy company. The inspection aimed to assess energy infrastructure, particularly critical facilities affecting the safe operation of Ukraine's nuclear power plants. The Ukrainian side granted the IAEA delegation access to critical high-voltage substation systems for comprehensive monitoring. This comprehensive monitoring of substations was made possible by the expansion of the IAEA's mandate in September 2024. Under the new mandate, international inspectors can monitor not only the safety status of nuclear power plants but also the critical transmission system facilities that ensure their stable operation. Notably...

2026-08-04

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant currently relies on only one external power line for electricity supply

Alexey Likhachev, President of Rosatom, stated that the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant currently obtains electricity through only one 330 kV external transmission line—Ferrosplavnaya-1—and that the instability of external power supply remains one of the main safety hazards facing the facility. According to the company's press office, Likhachev noted that the lack of a second operational external transmission line at the Zaporizhzhia NPP increases the risk to the safe operation of the plant's units. Although the plant is in a shutdown state, its safety-critical systems still require a stable power supply to ensure the continued operation of equipment related to nuclear safety...

2026-08-03

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant states that water supply from wells is sufficient to maintain equipment cooling and nuclear safety.

On July 24, Yevgeniya Yashina, Head of Communications for the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, stated that despite ongoing restrictions on the centralized water supply in Energodar—the city where the plant is located—the systems ensuring the plant

2026-07-27