Series of drone attacks disrupt power supply near Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant, IAEA says

A series of drone strikes recently disrupted the power supply at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), located near the Zaporizhzhia Thermal Power Plant (ZTPP), according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The IAEA reported these attacks on Oct. 3, noting that they took place on Sept. 19, 20, and 27. The ZTPP, crucial for supplying electricity to the ZNPP, and the ZNPP itself are currently under Russian control since the onset of the full-scale war in 2022.

The IAEA did not disclose the perpetrators of these attacks, merely stating the dates of occurrence. The strikes specifically targeted transformers essential for maintaining the ZNPP's off-site power supply. In response, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi is engaged in negotiations for a localized ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, aimed at facilitating repairs at the ZTPP.

This would be the eighth such IAEA-brokered ceasefire, all designed to ensure the ZNPP's off-site power supply. The ZNPP has experienced numerous external power outages since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion. A strike on Sept. 22 reportedly disabled an off-site radiation monitoring station, compromising the ZNPP's ability to monitor nearby radiation levels.

Additional attacks targeted buildings in the Russian-occupied city of Enerhodar, where many ZNPP employees reside, resulting in at least one fatality. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is Europe's largest nuclear facility and ranks among the ten largest globally. Ukraine has consistently cautioned that Russia's occupation of the plant represents one of the most significant nuclear safety threats—both within Ukraine and internationally.

In May 2026, the IAEA warned that heightened drone activity near the ZNPP escalates the risk of a nuclear accident at the site. Furthermore, in August, the agency reported a drone explosion at a bus stop frequented by ZNPP staff, causing one death and 15 injuries.