Ukraine: Russia’s Zaporizhzhia power link breaches law

Ukraine has warned that any Russian attempt to link the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to its own energy grid would represent a serious breach of international law and a direct attack on Ukrainian sovereignty.

The statement, reported by Ukraine’s national news agency Ukrinform and citing an unnamed Kyiv official, comes following increasing concerns over the safety of Europe’s largest nuclear power facility, currently under Russian control.

Ukraine has formally protested to the IAEA over Russia’s attempts to connect the plant to its grid, condemning the move as a violation of international law and Ukrainian sovereignty. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has stated a restart might be possible following a ceasefire, though he claims Russia is “professionally managing” the site—a position Kyiv disputes.

Russian forces seized the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) on March 4, 2022. Following the takeover, all six reactors were gradually shut down, with the final reactor ceasing operation in 2023. Since then, it has remained a volatile flashpoint near the front lines along the Dnipro River. In August 2024, a fire at one of its cooling towers raised alarm internationally, with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirming smoke and explosions at the site.

Petro Kotin, head of Ukraine’s nuclear operator Energoatom, has warned that restarting the plant under occupation is unsafe and practically impossible. Key challenges include insufficient cooling water, unreliable power supply, and lack of qualified staff.

Despite these risks, Russia is building a high-voltage power line in the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions, potentially enabling the restart of the seized Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), Greenpeace Ukraine reports.

Satellite analysis shows construction of 15 pylons and over 5 kilometers of power lines between May 11 and 22, 2025, northeast of Mariupol. The total planned line will stretch about 90–100 kilometers, linking the plant near Melitopol to substations in both Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions.

 Greenpeace warns that restarting the plant under these conditions carries a high risk of catastrophic failure, citing obstacles like insufficient water supply.

In early May 2025, Sergey Kiriyenko, senior Kremlin official, visited the plant urging preparations for power generation under Russian standards.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said a restart could be possible months after a ceasefire, while noting Russia is “professionally managing” the site. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry condemns Russia’s actions and urges the IAEA to increase pressure to prevent illegitimate control over the plant, which has been under Russian occupation since March 2022.

With no ceasefire in sight and the plant in an active war zone, Zaporizhzhia remains a symbol of the ongoing nuclear danger posed by the conflict.

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