Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Crisis: Risk of Fukushima-like Disaster as Power Cut Raises Alarms Amid Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The Russia-Ukraine war has escalated tensions around Europe’s largest nuclear facility, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), located in Russian-occupied Ukraine. The power plant has been cut off from Ukraine’s electrical grid since September 23, 2025, forcing it to rely solely on emergency diesel generators to maintain cooling and safety systems critical to preventing a nuclear meltdown.

This unprecedented power outage, now lasting over four days, has drawn comparisons to past nuclear disasters such as Chernobyl and Fukushima. Without external power, the risk of reactor overheating rises sharply, which could lead to catastrophic nuclear radiation leaks affecting large swaths of Europe, including Ukraine, Russia, and neighboring countries.

Ukraine and Russia continue to blame each other for attacks on power infrastructure that have resulted in the blackout. The International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) director Rafael Grossi visited Moscow to discuss safety concerns with Vladimir Putin and Russia’s state nuclear agency Rosatom, but no resolution has been reached.

Greenpeace Ukraine has warned that Russia may use this crisis to connect the plant to the Russian-controlled power grid in occupied territories and restart its reactors, a move considered dangerous amid ongoing conflict. Satellite imagery indicates preparations to integrate power lines for Russian control, further complicating the geopolitical stakes surrounding the plant.

The Zaporizhzhia plant’s lack of stable power impairs essential cooling systems, increasing the risk of a meltdown similar to the 2011 Fukushima disaster. Safety experts remain deeply concerned, especially as the plant has previously experienced shelling, power cuts, and operational challenges since being occupied by Russian forces in early 2022.

The ongoing conflict at the ZNPP highlights a dangerous new phase in the Russia-Ukraine war, where nuclear safety risks are intertwined with military objectives, raising alarm worldwide about a potential nuclear catastrophe with devastating consequences for Europe and beyond