A new report highlights Russia’s efforts to restart an offline nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine. This has raised concerns about potential risks. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant was captured in the first week of Russia’s illegal invasion in early 2022. It was shut down in September of that year, but now there are concerns that Russia may attempt to restart the plant.
Russia’s efforts to restart Zaporizhzhia plant
Emerging energy
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is a major point of contention in the Russia-Ukraine war, and provided energy to Ukraine until it was captured by Russia at the start of the war in March 2022.
A recent article in The New York Times cites a report from Greenpeace featuring verified satellite images that show Russia constructing more than 50 miles of power lines and steel towers. These lines connect the occupied cities of Mariupol and Berdyansk along the Azov Sea coastline. However, Moscow’s intentions for the plant remain unclear.
No one outside of Vladimir Putin’s inner circle knows his plans for the plant. It’s uncertain whether he intends to operate it in a postwar Ukraine or while hostilities continue. Experts note that Russia would need to build additional lines to connect the Zaporizhzhia plant to its power grid, a task that would require considerable time and effort.
Uncertain intentions of Moscow
What is clear is Russia’s desire to get the plant back online. In October 2023, Alexey Likhachev, CEO of Rosatom, said on the state-owned Rossiya-24 television that they are ensuring the safe operation of the facility. He stated they will look for opportunities to restart it as the situation unfolds.
Meanwhile, President Trump has advocated for U.S. control of Ukrainian nuclear plants due to safety concerns and economic benefits. Last month, the White House proposed a peace plan for Kyiv and its allies. This plan suggested that Russia should return the plant to Ukraine under U.S. oversight. The proposal included the facility supplying electricity to both Ukraine and Russia, but Moscow dismissed it.
Significance and risks of restarting the facility
The Zaporizhzhia facility, built during the Soviet era, is Europe’s largest nuclear power complex. It has six reactors and provided nearly a quarter of Ukraine’s electricity before the war began in 2022. Regardless of Russia’s intentions, experts warn that restarting the plant would involve significant risks.
