Authors: Shaun Burnie, senior nuclear specialist, Greenpeace Ukraine and Jan Vande Putte, radiation and nuclear professional, Greenpeace Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Energy Plant has resumed drawing energy from the Ukrainian energy grid after almost a month with out electrical energy. It could appear that we will breathe a sigh of reduction, however no. Despite the fact that the Russians failed to totally perform their felony plans the ZNPP remains to be at risk. The primary drawback dealing with the plant — the Russian occupation — stays unresolved. Subsequently, it’s extremely seemingly that new crises on the ZNPP are solely a matter of time. Greenpeace Ukraine proved — the sabotage of the road on 23 September ordered by the Russian authorities was yet one more a wholly manufactured disaster. On the identical time the Kremlin's atomic disinformation is as soon as once more and inexcusably boosted by Rafael Grossi – aspiring Secretary-Basic of the United Nations. The Worldwide Atomic Vitality Company (IAEA) Director Basic was fast to declare that "Return of energy (a) key step for nuclear security". We aren’t fooled by Russian disinformation and Mr. Grossi's battle of curiosity, and neither ought to Ukraine's allies — the one key step for guaranteeing nuclear security is de-occupation by all Russian forces from the Ukrainian plant.
On 27 September, 4 days after the connection between the plant and the 750kV Dniprovska line was reduce, Greenpeace Ukraine revealed evaluation that Russia was implementing a plan to try to hook up with the occupied Ukraine grid south and east of the ZNPP in Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk. The following subsequent stage can be making an attempt to restart one of many shutdown reactors. This has been a Russian plan since not less than 2022 – it failed then, and once more in 2024, and now in autumn 2025. Nevertheless, the elemental risk to nuclear security and safety at ZNPP stays – the unlawful occupation by Russian armed forces and the felony Rosatom group. No quantity of sugar coating by Director Basic Grossi will change this actuality and guarantee nuclear security.
On 1 October, Greenpeace Ukraine revealed satellite tv for pc imagery reviewed by specialists at McKenzie Intelligence Companies in London. This was imagery of the 750 kV Dniprovska transmission tower and line positioned 2km from the ZNPP and underneath Russian occupation. As we had suspected, the satellite tv for pc imagery allowed the Mckenzie workforce to conclude that if there was injury, it was not the results of Ukraine shelling as there was no cratering or different proof. Any repairs might be rapidly and easily concluded. It was conclusive proof that Russian claims that the electrical energy line had been broken by Ukraine navy fireplace had been false. Russian officers repeatedly issued false claims, together with the Director of Rosatom Lighachev, that any restore was not doable resulting from persevering with Ukraine assaults. However there have been no Ukraine assaults and subsequently the ceasefire by Ukraine was wholly pointless. At any time since 23 September Russian engineers might have repaired the road. The ceasefire as negotiated by Grossi was a half-truth. The opposite half being {that a} Russian ceasefire was completely important to restore the opposite ZNPP electrical energy line, the 330 kV Ferosplavna-1line. This runs north from ZNPP throughout the Dnipro to Nikopol district and was severely broken by Russian artillery and Grads fired from close to the ZNPP. The 330 kV Ferosplavna-1 line has not been operable for 5 months and the ceasefire has lastly allowed brave Ukraine engineers to begin repairs and never be underneath fixed Russian assault.
So what simply occurred from 23th of September till 2 th of October on the ZNPP and why? Russia tried to reconnect the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Energy Plant to "itself" and thoroughly ready for this crime from each a technical and diplomatic standpoint. However it failed.
The goal of Russia (nonetheless!) is to retain management of the ZNPP and to proceed to make use of it as a strategic asset towards Ukraine and Europe. As a radiological risk to exert affect, the plant has an unlimited stockpile of extremely radioactive nuclear gasoline within the cores and within the spent gasoline swimming pools. As a result of all six nuclear reactors have been shut-down for greater than three years there was inevitable decay of the warmth within the gasoline and subsequently the quantity of cooling operate required is way lower than when the reactors had been working or simply lately shut down. They nonetheless want cooling however rather a lot much less. Realizing this earlier in 2025, Russians gambled that there was enough on-site emergency diesel producing capability to function over an prolonged interval and able to powering cooling water pumps and different security programs. The ability reduce from September 23th was an emergency however deliberate. Russia little doubt judged that they’d created sufficient of an emergency for Rosatom to subsequently try and justify to the IAEA the reconnection to the grid traces that run south of the plant in illegally occupied Zaporizhzhia, Kherson and Donetsk. The brand new grid line underneath building between Melitopol and Mariupol which we highlighted in Might and September is just one a part of Russia's grid plans. For some causes, which is able to seem in future historical past textbooks, their plan to connect with the Russian grid failed – this time. However the occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Energy Plant continues, and with the intention to forestall the whole civilized world from taking part in the Russian aggressor's nuclear video games, we, the IAEA and the worldwide group, should do all the things doable to finish the occupation.
Ukraine's allies must get up to the dimensions of the nuclear risk posed by the continued Russian occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. Until issues change, Russian forces will sooner or later repeat their efforts to hook up with the occupied grid and try a reactor restart. The trajectory Russia is on to a nuclear catastrophe is unacceptable however preventable. It requires the strongest doable motion by European governments, together with the imposition of punitive and efficient sanctions that ends all nuclear commerce with the felony state enterprise Rosatom. It additionally requires that the top of the IAEA stops pandering to the Russian authorities. The DG Grossi must act within the pursuits of actual nuclear security. He’s required to totally adjust to all related resolutions of the IAEA Board of Governors and Basic Convention member states which require that the ZNPP be returned to the only real reliable Ukraine operator and regulator and the resolutions of the UN Basic Meeting which demand Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity be revered. False flags, sabotage and disinformation are centuries outdated and commonplace working process from Russian rulers in Moscow. The radioactive model of this harmful propaganda can’t be tolerated coming from IAEA headquarters in Vienna.
