Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant loses all off-site power, risking safety

VIENNA - The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant lost all off-site power on Tuesday, showcasing persistent risks to nuclear safety, according to a UN nuclear watchdog.

The power loss was the 10th time during the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the International Atomic Energy Agency said Tuesday on social platform X, adding that its team is investigating the cause of the incident.

The agency's Director General Rafael Grossi said later that day that emergency diesel generators had started operating to supply the plant with power, citing its team at Zaporizhzhia.

Zaporizhzhia's six reactors have been in cold shutdown since 2024 but still require cooling water for their reactor cores and spent fuel pools. Before the conflict, it had 10 off-site power lines available.