Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant loses external power as strikes cut electricity across Ukraine

The Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine has lost its external power supply after the Ferosplavna line was disconnected by protective systems following damage. The plant's Russian-installed management said backup diesel generators are now supplying the equipment needed for safe operation. It also said radiation levels at the site and in the surrounding monitoring zone remain normal.

According to the plant's management, the line was shut down automatically and staff are monitoring operational parameters closely. The statement said all necessary measures were being taken to maintain the safe condition of the power units. The loss of external electricity is significant because the plant depends on stable power to support safety systems, even when reactors are not producing electricity.

At the same time, Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure left hundreds of thousands of homes without power in the Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv regions. The DTEK power company said more than 600,000 residents in Dnipropetrovsk were left without electricity after a night attack damaged important energy facilities. In Kharkiv region, a drone hit a critical infrastructure facility, and nearly 250,000 customers were reported without power.

The latest outages underline the continuing strain on Ukraine's energy system as winter approaches. Repeated attacks on power generation and transmission have become a central feature of the war, with officials warning that repairs are being complicated by further strikes. The disruption also adds to concerns around the Zaporizhzhia plant, which remains one of the most sensitive nuclear sites in Europe because of its location in an active war zone.

Ukraine's energy ministry said a major attack the previous day had already plunged residents in five regions into darkness and significantly hampered electricity transmission in Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of intensifying strikes to increase pressure on Kyiv during US-brokered trilateral talks scheduled in Abu Dhabi. The pattern of attacks suggests energy infrastructure remains a key target in the wider conflict, with both civilian supply and nuclear safety affected.

What remains unclear is how long the Zaporizhzhia plant will need to rely on diesel generators and whether the damaged line can be restored quickly. It is also not yet clear when full power will return to the affected parts of Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv. The immediate focus will be on repair work, the stability of backup systems, and whether further strikes disrupt restoration efforts.

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