**Title: Power Supply Restored at Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant After Extended Emergency Mode**
The Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), Europe's largest nuclear facility, has returned to normal operations following the restoration of its power supply after more than two weeks in emergency mode. Aleksey Likhachev, CEO of the Russian state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom, announced the development on Monday, confirming that the plant is now functioning as intended.
The main external power line to the ZNPP was severed in March due to what Ukrainian authorities described as "damage" to transmission towers. Since that time, the plant had been relying on a backup power line until August 20, when that line was also shut down due to an unspecified incident in Ukrainian-controlled territory. This situation forced the ZNPP to depend on emergency diesel-powered generators for its operations.
Likhachev expressed gratitude to all parties involved in establishing a temporary local truce that facilitated the necessary repair work. He highlighted the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in mediating the situation, which he credited as a crucial factor in the restoration of power.
The ZNPP's operator confirmed the return of external power and reported that safety limits were not violated during the emergency period. The radiation levels at the plant and in the surrounding areas remained stable and within natural background levels. However, the operator noted that the second power supply line has yet to be restored, and regular fuel deliveries to the facility face challenges due to ongoing hostilities in the region.
Evgenia Yashina, the communications director for the ZNPP, indicated that diesel fuel deliveries have been "problematic" due to Ukrainian shelling targeting roads leading to the plant. This ongoing conflict has raised concerns about the safety and security of the facility, which has been a focal point of tension since Russia assumed control in March 2022.
The ZNPP and the nearby city of Energodar have experienced multiple attacks from Ukrainian forces, including artillery strikes and drone assaults. In July, a Ukrainian drone strike resulted in the death of the plant's chief engineer, Aleksandr Yakovlev, and his driver, an incident Likhachev condemned as a "deliberate terrorist act."
Likhachev reported that over a dozen ZNPP employees have been killed and many others injured in attacks attributed to Ukrainian forces over the past three months. He warned that such actions pose a "real danger of a massive nuclear incident" that could impact parts of Russia, Ukraine, and the European Union.
Additionally, Likhachev noted that the Ukrainian military has begun remotely mining areas near the ZNPP and Energodar, where many plant employees reside. In early August, four ZNPP workers were injured by landmines deployed by drones in the vicinity.
The IAEA, which has experts stationed at the ZNPP, has faced criticism from Moscow for acknowledging the attacks on the facility but refraining from directly blaming Ukraine for the incidents. This ongoing situation highlights the precarious nature of nuclear safety amid the ongoing conflict in the region.
As the ZNPP resumes normal operations, the focus remains on ensuring the safety and security of the facility and its personnel in an environment marked by continued military tensions. The restoration of external power is a significant step, but the challenges of securing fuel supplies and maintaining operational stability persist.