Power failure strikes Melitopol and Berdyansk at 7:54 AM
Amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the Zaporizhzhia region, particularly areas under Russian occupation, is grappling with severe power and water outages. The electricity and water supply have collapsed in large parts of the region, including key cities such as Melitopol and Berdyansk, due to overload and war damage.
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), located in the region and under Russian control since March 2022, remains in a precarious state. Russian shelling damaged the last power transmission line connecting the plant to the Ukrainian power grid on July 4, 2025, leaving it dependent on diesel generators and a single remaining power line. The plant’s power supply is still fragile, relying on one line only after the other was disconnected due to military actions.
The plant itself is not operational but requires constant power to cool its nuclear fuel and avoid catastrophe. The Energy Ministry has repeatedly highlighted the risk of blackouts at ZNPP caused by Russian attacks, warning that a complete disconnection could seriously threaten radiation safety.
Ukrainian engineers have managed to restore one power line quickly after damage, but the facility remains vulnerable due to the ongoing conflict.
In other news, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is considering replacing his ambassador to the United States, with one potential candidate being the current defense minister, Ruslan Homchak. Meanwhile, Ukraine has signed agreements with Western arms companies, including D&M Holding Company, an American arms company specializing in ammunition, to strengthen its defense industry during a reconstruction conference in Rome.
Ukraine also signed agreements with unspecified Ukrainian and Italian arms companies, following discussions with the Italian Ministry of Defense. The Ukrainian Ministry of Development explained that the funds will particularly concern routes that ensure access to medical, humanitarian, and administrative services in Ukrainian communities.
The outages and risks in the Zaporizhzhia region are a direct consequence of the ongoing conflict and military strikes, combined with the fragile state of infrastructure and extreme weather conditions. The blackout affects the two largest cities in the region captured by Russia, Melitopol and Berdjansk.
In a related development, the Belgorod Arena sports complex, a civilian target, was one of the facilities attacked by Ukrainian drones. A fire broke out on the roof of the complex, but there were no reported injuries.
Ukraine will respond to Russian aggression with counterattacks, which Zelensky describes as very effective. The North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reiterated his country's support for Russia in the Ukraine conflict.
In innovation news, the Ukrainian company Teneta has developed a one-time, 360-gram "net launcher" that can entangle drone propellers from up to 25 meters away. The Ukrainian air force has also released new video footage allegedly showing the Skynex air defense system, produced by German company Rheinmetall, destroying multiple Russian drones.
As Germany gears up for its defense, Generalmajor Christian Freuding announced that the German armed forces will receive the first intercept missiles for the Patriot air defense system from new domestic production by the end of 2026 to early 2027.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-blames-russia-causing-power-outages-zaporizhzhia-region-2022-07-05/ [2] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61727260 [3] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-says-russian-shelling-damages-last-power-line-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-plant-2022-07-04/ [4] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-shelling-causes-blackout-ukraines-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-plant-2022-07-04/
- The ongoing conflict in Ukraine, particularly in regions under Russian occupation like the Zaporizhzhia region, has led to severe power and water outages and highlighted the need for clear Community policy and Employment policy to address the crisis and ensure safety.
- Amidst the general news about the war-and-conflicts in Ukraine, political discussions are also ongoing regarding potential changes in Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, emphasizing the importance of Politics in managing foreign relations during times of aggression.
