Repair work has started on damaged power lines to Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant after the site experienced its longest outage since Russia invaded in March 2022. The UN nuclear watchdog said the outage, which began on September 23, cut off the plant’s connection to the national grid for the 10th time.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that Russia and Ukraine set up local ceasefire zones to allow the repairs to proceed safely. Rafael Grossi, IAEA chief, said both sides cooperated to ensure the complex repair plan could move forward. “Restoring off-site power is crucial for nuclear safety and security,” he wrote on social media. The agency expects the work to take about a week, with both Russia and Ukraine confirming the repairs have begun.
Since the power loss, the nuclear plant has relied on diesel generators to maintain cooling and safety systems. Although all six reactors were shut down after Moscow’s occupation, electricity remains essential to prevent a potential disaster. The Zaporizhzhia facility is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe and supplied roughly one-fifth of Ukraine’s electricity before the war.
Meanwhile, Russia continued its attacks across Ukraine. Ukrainian forces reported three missile strikes and 164 drone launches overnight, shooting down 136 drones. In Sumy’s Zarichny district, two people were injured when Russian drones targeted a petrol station. Russia said its air defenses intercepted 41 Ukrainian drones overnight.
On the diplomatic front, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy met US President Donald Trump at the White House after Trump indicated the possibility of providing long-range Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv. However, no new missile supply was confirmed, disappointing many in Ukraine who hoped the weapons could pressure Vladimir Putin into negotiations. Military personnel in Ukraine view the promise of Tomahawk missiles as largely political, emphasizing the need for new weaponry as Russia continues to target civilian infrastructure.
Civilians remain determined to end the war. Psychologist Victoria Khramtsova said that after more than three years of conflict, Ukrainians simply want peace. “I read only the headlines now, and they still make me sad,” she said.
Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya warned Trump that Putin is not genuinely interested in negotiations over Ukraine. She stressed that democratic progress in Belarus is essential for regional stability. “Our task is to explain that it’s not only about political hostages. A democratic Belarus is in the interest of the US as well,” she said, urging stronger support for democracy in her country.
The repairs at Zaporizhzhia mark a critical step toward maintaining nuclear safety as the war enters its 1,334th day. Both Ukrainian authorities and the IAEA continue to monitor the situation closely, emphasizing the importance of electricity in preventing a nuclear disaster amid ongoing conflict.
