Repairs Underway at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant After Outage

Efforts are now underway to restore the power supply at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, according to Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The repairs aim to end a critical four-week outage that forced the facility to rely on backup generators. This situation has raised significant concerns about nuclear safety.

On Saturday, the IAEA announced that both Russian and Ukrainian forces had established designated ceasefire zones to facilitate the repair work. The agency emphasized the importance of restoring off-site power, labeling it as “crucial for nuclear safety and security.” The statement highlighted productive engagement from both sides with the IAEA to enable the complex repair process.

Ukrainian Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk confirmed that Ukrainian specialists are actively involved in restoring power lines to the plant. She stated that ensuring its stable operation and maintaining connections with the Ukrainian power grid are vital to prevent any potential nuclear incidents. This incident marks the 42nd time since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 that the power lines to the plant have required restoration.

The Zaporizhzhia plant, recognized as Europe’s largest nuclear power station, has been operating on diesel backup generators since September 23, 2023, when its last remaining external power line was severed. Both Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other for the attacks that led to this situation. Although the plant is currently not in service, it requires a reliable power supply to cool its six shutdown reactors and manage spent fuel safely to avert catastrophic nuclear incidents.

Ongoing Military Actions and International Diplomacy

In a related context, Russia has intensified its aerial bombardment of Ukraine. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that overnight, Russia launched three missiles and 164 drones, of which Ukrainian forces successfully intercepted 136. Local officials indicated that two women, aged 51 and 53, were injured following a Russian drone strike on a gas station in the Zarichny district of Sumy in northeast Ukraine.

On the diplomatic front, Russia’s Ministry of Defense reported the downing of 41 Ukrainian drones during the same period. These developments come just a day after Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, where discussions included the potential provision of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, possibly in exchange for Ukrainian drones.

Despite the ongoing conflict, Trump described his meeting with Zelenskyy as “very interesting and cordial,” expressing hopes that he could persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war. He indicated that there has been “great progress” in discussions aimed at resolving the conflict. However, Russia has not signaled any intention to cease hostilities.

First Lady Melania Trump recently mentioned her efforts to collaborate with Putin on initiatives to return Ukrainian children to their families, a personal project she undertook independently. As the situation in Ukraine continues to evolve, the international community remains watchful for developments impacting both nuclear safety and ongoing military actions.