On 26 April, Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) lost all off-site power for the 15th time since the military conflict began over four years ago in February 2022. 

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Occurring as the world marked a sombre 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl accident, the frequent power loss events highlight the still precarious nuclear safety situation in Ukraine, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said. 

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The 330 kV Ferosplavna-1 backup power line – the ZNPP’s last remaining off-site power line – was temporarily disconnected for approximately 60 minutes on Sunday. The ZNPP’s emergency diesel generators immediately started and supplied the power needed to maintain essential nuclear safety and security functions during the external power outage.  The IAEA team at the site continues to discuss the three recent loss-of-offsite-power events with the ZNPP to understand the cause of each event and any measures that are being considered to limit these occurrences. 

 

The ZNPP’s main off-site 750 kV Dniprovska power line has been disconnected since 24 March 2026. The IAEA continues to engage in negotiations with both Ukraine and the Russian Federation to establish a temporary localized ceasefire to enable repairs on the Dniprovska power line, taking into account that the damages are located on overhead cables above the Dnipro River.

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On Monday, the ZNPP also informed the IAEA of an incident involving a drone attack that resulted in one fatality in the transportation workshop, located a few kilometres from the site in the industrial area near the plant.

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“This incident is a stark reminder of the very real dangers posed when military activities take place anywhere near a nuclear facility,” Director General Grossi said. “I urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint and remind both sides of Pillar 3 of the Seven Indispensable Pillars of nuclear safety and security during an armed conflict.” 

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Pillar 3 states that “the operating staff must be able to fulfil their safety and security duties and have the capacity to make decisions free of undue pressure”.

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Meanwhile, last week, the IAEA team at the ZNPP observed the test of an emergency diesel generator and visited two reactor unit containment and safety rooms.

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Today, an IAEA mission was dispatched to assess the status of Ukraine’s electrical substations. The team will visit 14 electrical substations, which are essential for ensuring reliable off-site power. This is the seventh such mission; the previous mission took place earlier this year.

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Marking the Anniversary of the Chornobyl Accident

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On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl accident, the Director General travelled to Kyiv and Chornobyl, reaffirming the IAEA’s continued support to Ukraine. He met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrii Sybiha, participated in the G7+ Ministerial Conference and attended the official commemoration of the anniversary at the Chornobyl site. 

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The IAEA has been with Chornobyl since 1986 and “has been here helping repair and mitigate the effects of that accident,” Director General Grossi said. “Today, a new challenge is to repair the roof of the New Safe Confinement, which has been affected during the war. The IAEA was there 40 years ago. The IAEA is here now. The IAEA will be here tomorrow.”

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The Director General also met with the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, Denys Shmyhal, and signed a Memorandum of Understanding to support Ukraine’s reconstruction, enhance the safety of its nuclear power plants and to promote the further development of its nuclear energy sector. 

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IAEA Delivers Essential Equipment

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The IAEA continues to deliver essential equipment to support Ukraine through its comprehensive programme of assistance amid the ongoing conflict. 

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Under the IAEA Support and Assistance Mission to the Kherson Oblast (ISAMKO), a supply of DNA sequencing equipment, reference influenza strains, diagnostic test kits, and antisera were delivered to the State Scientific Research Institute of Laboratory Diagnostics and Veterinary and Sanitary Expertise in Kyiv. Batch items consisting of photometers, microscopes and pH meters were delivered to the Zaporizhzhia Regional State Laboratory. Pipettes, sample processing equipment, PCR tubes, and diagnostic and laboratory instruments were delivered to the Cherkasy Regional State Laboratory. 

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“Since June 2023, over 20 deliveries have been made supporting 15 institutions in the areas of non-destructive testing, isotope hydrology, food safety and animal health operating under the challenging conditions of the ongoing conflict,” Director General Grossi said. 

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Under the medical assistance programme, one tonometer with corneal response technology and one first aid full body training simulator were delivered to the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant (SUNPP). Laptops and desktop computers were delivered to the Center of Primary Health Care in Slavutych. In addition, a fully equipped ambulance was delivered to the SUNPP during the Director General’s visit to Ukraine on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl accident.

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“Since April 2023, the IAEA has helped operating personnel of nuclear power plant (NPP) sites to have access to the services they need to maintain their physical and mental health,” he said. “The Agency has now delivered four ambulances and nearly €3 million in medical supplies to Ukraine’s nuclear facilities.”

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Under the nuclear safety assistance programme, air conditioners for the cooling of server equipment were delivered to the Chornobyl NPP. 

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The deliveries were made possible with funds from Denmark, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom.

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Text Courtesy, IAEA