Since the beginning of the current year, the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP has experienced 14 cases of total external power loss. This is leading to critical wear and tear of the plant's backup equipment. This was reported by Ukrinform, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
The total number of blackouts at the ZNPP since the full-scale invasion by russia has reached 26. Energoatom reports that the facility lost power 14 times within the first eight months of 2026 alone.
Regular switching to backup diesel generators poses a threat to radiation and nuclear safety. Frequent operation of these units in critical modes leads to rapid degradation of the equipment’s technical condition.
The technical condition of the NPP assets is rapidly deteriorating
“The situation at the ZNPP is worsening, we are seeing degradation of the equipment condition. First of all, the state of the diesel generator stations is a concern. Turning them on for short periods frequently puts significant stress on the equipment, leading to wear,” said Pavlo Kovtoniuk.
Energoatom emphasizes that the responsibility for the plant’s emergency state lies with the occupation administration, which is unable to ensure proper operation. The company insists on de-occupying the facility to stabilize its performance.
Illustrative photo: Ralf1969 / CC BY-SA 3.0
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