Overnight into June 3, 2026, the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP experienced its 17th blackout since russian troops seized the plant, and its fifth since the beginning of this year.
At 11:44 p.m., due to the disconnection of the “Ferosplavna-1” power line, the plant completely lost off-site power supply. The operation of critical systems was maintained by backup diesel generators.
According to the IAEA, the power outage was caused by a drone strike on the Nikopolska substation on the other side of the Dnipro river from the ZNPP, leading to the temporary disconnection of the site’s only remaining power line.
Another blackout at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant once again highlights the critical risks posed by the illegal occupation of the facility by russian troops. Every loss of off-site power poses a direct threat to nuclear and radiation safety.
Energoatom emphasizes: the return of the Zaporizhzhia NPP to the full control of Ukraine and its legitimate operator is the only way to guarantee the safe operation of the plant and prevent a nuclear and radiation accident with unpredictable consequences.
