Zaporizhzhia plant loses external power, backup diesel generators activated
Backup diesel generators are running after the Zaporizhzhia plant lost an external supply line on 8 November 2026.
On 8 November 2026 the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine — the largest in Europe — again lost its external electricity supply, forcing the activation of backup diesel generators needed to cool nuclear fuel.
Plant management, which was installed by Russian authorities, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed the outage and said it affected the Ferrosplavna transmission line. The plant’s main supply line, the Dniprovska transmission line, has been out of service since 23 October 2026.
Cooling systems kept running on emergency power
The IAEA stated that the cause and precise location of the latest interruption remain unknown. Operators activated diesel generators to maintain the cooling systems that are essential even though the plant’s six reactors are not producing electricity.
According to the plant’s management, fuel reserves are sufficient to operate a limited number of backup generators for about two weeks. The Russian-appointed leadership also said that all necessary safety measures have been taken and that radiation levels inside the facility and in surrounding areas remain within normal limits.
The Zaporizhzhia plant has been under Russian control since the start of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. In September 2026, the IAEA brokered a local ceasefire intended to allow repairs to damaged electrical infrastructure. The newest loss of external power once again highlights the vulnerability of one of the conflict’s most sensitive facilities.
Photo: press material from the event
