IAEA nuclear safety deteriorated at Zaporizhzhia NPP
According to Ukraine's military intelligence, all six power units at the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant remain in cold shutdown and produce no electricity. The plant is facing falling cooling-pond water levels, minimal diesel supplies and staff shortages, while the Kremlin has rejected a Ukrainian proposal to provide external power.
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- All six units were in cold shutdown and offline in the first half of October 2026.
- The cooling pond stood at 12.27 metres on 12 October, down from 12.34 metres at the start of the month.
- The minimum water level considered necessary to fully meet the plant's needs is 15 metres.
- Diesel reserves remain minimal, while covert resupply options, including low-quality fuel, are being considered without notifying the IAEA.
- The Kremlin rejected Ukraine's proposal to supply external power via the 750 kV Dniprovska line and the 330 kV Ferosplavna-1 substation line.
- The plant's total workforce is about 5,000, compared with roughly 11,000 specialists before the full-scale invasion.
- The IAEA reported a series of drone attacks on the plant in recent weeks.
لماذا يهمّ ذلك
Although the reactors are shut down, the plant still requires cooling and other safety systems to be supplied with electricity. It therefore depends on external power and backup diesel generators. Falling water levels, minimal fuel reserves, a reduced workforce and attacks on the facility increase the risks of an accident and undermine the ability to maintain nuclear safety.
ماذا حدث
Ukraine's military intelligence reported that all six Zaporizhzhia NPP units remained in cold shutdown in the first half of October 2026 and produced no electricity. The cooling pond fell to 12.27 metres by 12 October, compared with 15 metres considered the minimum needed to fully meet the station's requirements. Diesel reserves are also minimal, and occupying authorities are considering covert supplies, potentially of low-quality fuel, without informing the IAEA. Russia is reportedly considering reducing the number of backup generators kept on automatic standby, which could increase the risk of an emergency.
Ukraine proposed supplying the plant through the 750 kV Dniprovska transmission line via the 330 kV Ferosplavna-1 substation line, but the Kremlin rejected the proposal. Meanwhile, the plant's workforce has fallen sharply, and the occupation administration plans special training courses for applicants from Russian regions to replace Ukrainian specialists. The IAEA has also reported repeated drone attacks on the facility in recent weeks.
الخلفية
Zaporizhzhia NPP is Europe's largest nuclear power plant and has been under Russian occupation since the early stages of the full-scale invasion. Cold shutdown means that reactors are not generating electricity but still require cooling and other safety systems to be powered. The cooling pond is the plant's main on-site water source for cooling and safety functions, making its level an important safety indicator. Russian authorities have repeatedly clashed with the IAEA over access, staffing decisions and the status of Ukrainian personnel.