Russian-held Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant loses external power: IAEA

Aug 21, 2026

National
Russian-held Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant loses external power: IAEA

Vienna [Austria], August 21: The Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine has once again lost its external power supply, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
A 330-kilovolt power line was likely damaged on the northern bank of the Dnipro river, the UN's nuclear watchdog said on X. An attempt to reconnect the line was unsuccessful.
Due to ongoing military activity, technicians were not immediately able to determine the cause of the damage, the agency said.
Diesel generators started automatically and were supplying the plant's essential safety systems. The IAEA team stationed at the facility was continuing to assess the situation.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi warned of the "extremely fragile" nuclear safety situation, urging the warring parties to exercise maximum restraint and protect the plant's external power supply.
The Zaporizhzhya plant, with six reactors, is Europe's largest nuclear power station.
Source: Qatar Tribune