Enerhodar, Ukraine – A temporary ceasefire has been established between Russian and Ukrainian forces in the vicinity of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), DZWatch has learned. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) brokered the pause in hostilities to allow technical teams to repair critical power lines near the facility.
The IAEA confirmed in a statement that its teams are monitoring the repair work, which is expected to take several days. These efforts are aimed at preventing a nuclear accident during the ongoing conflict, which began nearly four years ago.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi expressed his gratitude to both sides for agreeing to what he termed a “temporary window of silence.” This pause enables the restoration of electricity transmission between the nuclear power plant’s switching stations and the external grid.
Russian forces have controlled the ZNPP since March 2022, following heavy shelling that raised concerns about a potential nuclear disaster. Moscow and Kyiv have frequently traded accusations regarding attacks on the plant since the escalation of the Ukrainian conflict in February 2022.
The Zaporizhzhia plant, located in the city of Enerhodar in southern Ukraine, is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe and one of the ten largest in the world. The resumption of power line functionality is considered crucial for the safe operation of the plant’s reactors.
