The Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has lost its external power supply after a power line was damaged, its management said, while authorities and an energy provider said Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure left hundreds of thousands without power in two regions.
The Ferosplavna power line was disconnected by protective systems because of damage, the plant's Russian-installed management said in a statement on the MAX messaging app. The management said backup diesel generators were supplying power to equipment required for safe operation. "Staff at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant are monitoring all operational parameters of the equipment. All necessary measures to maintain the safe condition of the power units are being taken in full," the management said. Radiation levels on site and in the surveillance zone were normal, the statement added.
In the central Dnipropetrovsk region, more than 600,000 residents were left without power after a night attack damaged important energy facilities, the DTEK power company said on Telegram. It said it was working to restore electricity but the task was "complicated by repeated attacks". In the northeastern Kharkiv region, a Russian drone hit a critical infrastructure facility, mayor Mykola Baksheyev said. Nearly 250,000 customers in the region lost power, he said, adding that repair works were underway but "the exact time for restoring power supply is still unknown".
The strikes came a day after Ukraine's energy ministry said a massive attack on energy facilities had plunged residents in five regions into darkness and significantly hampered electricity transmission in Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of intensifying strikes to put pressure on Kyiv at US-brokered trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The Zaporizhzhia plant's reliance on backup diesel generators raises the risk of a nuclear accident if power cannot be restored.
- Thousands of civilians face a winter without heating or electricity as temperatures hover around freezing.
- The attacks come days before US-brokered talks, signaling Moscow may be seeking leverage.
Background
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe's largest, was seized by Russian forces in March 2022. It has since experienced multiple external power cuts, each raising the alarm over cooling systems required to prevent a meltdown. The war has heavily damaged Ukraine's energy grid, and Kyiv has repeatedly accused Russia of targeting civilian infrastructure.
Key Perspectives
Russian-installed plant management: Says all necessary measures are being taken to maintain safe operation, radiation levels are normal, and backup generators are functioning.
Ukrainian authorities (DTEK, regional officials, President Zelensky): Report that Russian strikes have cut power to hundreds of thousands and accuse Russia of intensifying attacks to pressure Ukraine ahead of diplomatic talks in Abu Dhabi.
What to Watch
- Whether external power can be restored to the Zaporizhzhia plant before diesel fuel runs out.
- The outcome of the US-brokered trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and Wednesday.
- Further Russian strikes on energy infrastructure as winter sets in.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant lost its external power supply after a power line was damaged, according to its Russian-installed management.RTÉ News: “The Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine has lost its external power supply, the Russian-installed management of the plant said. It comes after the Ferosplavna power line was disconnected by protective systems because of damage.”
- SupportedRussian strikes cut power to hundreds of thousands of homes in the Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv regions.RTÉ News: “Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure cut power to hundreds of thousands of homes in the Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv regions, authorities and an energy provider said.”
- SupportedThe plant's Russian-installed management said backup diesel generators were supplying power to equipment required for safe operation.RTÉ News: “the plant's management said the Ferosplavna line had been shut down by automatic protection and that backup diesel generators were supplying power to the equipment required for safe operation of the station.”
- SupportedThe plant's management said radiation levels on site and in the surveillance zone were normal.RTÉ News: “Radiation levels on the site and in the surveillance zonewere normal, the statement added.”
- SupportedThe plant management said: “All necessary measures to maintain the safe condition of the power units are being taken in full.”RTÉ News: “Allnecessary measures to maintain the safe condition of the power units are being taken in full,”
- SupportedDTEK said more than 600,000 residents in Dnipropetrovsk region were left without power.RTÉ News: “"more than 600,000 residents of the region have been left without power," the DTEK power company DTEK said on Telegram”
- SupportedDTEK said a night attack damaged important energy facilities in Dnipropetrovsk region.RTÉ News: “DTEK said on Telegram after a "night attack has damaged important energy facilities".”
- SupportedDTEK said restoring electricity was “complicated by repeated attacks”.RTÉ News: “It said the company was working to restore electricity but the task was "complicated by repeated attacks".”
- SupportedMayor Mykola Baksheyev said a Russian drone hit a critical infrastructure facility in the Kharkiv region.RTÉ News: “In another strike, a Russian drone hit "a critical infrastructure facility" in the northeastern Kharkiv region, mayor of the Zlatopil city, Mykola Baksheyev, said on social media.”
- SupportedBaksheyev said nearly 250,000 customers in Kharkiv region were left without power.RTÉ News: “"Nearly 250,000 customers in the Kharkiv region were left without power," Mr Baksheyev said.”
- SupportedBaksheyev said repair work was underway but the exact time for restoring power was unknown.RTÉ News: “Repair works were underway but "the exact time for restoring power supply is still unknown," he added.”
- SupportedA day earlier, Ukraine's energy ministry said an attack had affected residents in five regions and electricity transmission in Kyiv; Zelensky accused Russia of intensifying strikes to pressure Kyiv at US-brokered talks scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.RTÉ News: “The strikes came a day after Ukraine's energy ministry said a massive attack on energy facilities had plunged residents in five regions into darkness and significantly hampered electricity transmission in Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of intensifying strikes to put pressure on Kyiv at US-brokered trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.”