Nuclear power plant crisis center in Zaporozhye, Ukraine, sustained damage by Russians
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine remains in a perilous state due to ongoing Russian military occupation and hostilities. The plant, which is under Russian control since March 2022, has seen critical infrastructure like the External Crisis Center partially destroyed and challenges in maintaining essential cooling water supplies for reactors in cold shutdown.
The situation is grave, with both Ukraine and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warning that the militarization of the plant by Russian forces poses an unprecedented nuclear safety risk, potentially leading to a catastrophic accident affecting the entire continent.
The External Crisis Center, a crucial part of the safety system, was partially destroyed on August 10, 2025, following a Russian missile strike. The facility monitors radiation levels, and its destruction further hampers nuclear safety oversight.
The six reactors at the ZNPP are currently in cold shutdown but still depend on a reliable cooling water supply. Due to hostilities and hot weather, the IAEA reports increasing problems maintaining cooling systems, with additional dangers from smoke and fires nearby.
Ukraine has been urging its partners to intensify pressure on Russia to demilitarize and de-occupy ZNPP immediately to avert a continental-scale nuclear disaster. The IAEA continues inspections and monitoring despite hostile conditions, documenting violations and risks but lacking the authority to enforce demilitarization.
Russia, however, refuses to establish a demilitarized zone around ZNPP or withdraw troops, increasing the risk of escalation. The Ministry of Energy is advocating for the full demilitarization of ZNPP and its return to the control of the legal operator - NNEGC Energoatom.
The IAEA's IRMIS system is being used to transmit data, but this transmission is being blocked by the occupation administration of the ZNPP. The Ministry of Energy is urging international partners and organizations to take action to prevent further attacks on Ukraine's nuclear infrastructure facilities.
Despite the damage sustained on August 10, the ZNPP's External Crisis Center continues to function. The specialists of the crisis center are constantly monitoring the radiation situation in the territories under Ukrainian control.
The only way to restore nuclear safety and regional stability, according to the Ministry of Energy, is through the full demilitarization of ZNPP and its return to the control of NNEGC Energoatom. The ministry appeals for international partners and organizations to increase sanctions pressure on Russia and take urgent measures to stop attacks on Ukraine's nuclear infrastructure facilities.
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