IAEA-Brokered Ceasefire Allows Repairs at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant

A local ceasefire brokered by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) came into effect on Saturday, enabling repair work to restore external power to the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine. The plant has been without external electricity since August 20 and has been relying on emergency diesel generators to cool its vital safety systems.

The IAEA has warned that the facility is running low on diesel fuel and could face a station blackout within days unless power is restored or additional fuel is delivered. Ukrainian technicians were scheduled to begin repairs on the damaged Ferosplavna power line after completing demining operations in the area.

Alexei Likhachev, head of Russia's state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom, said the temporary ceasefire began on Saturday morning and was expected to last about a week. He noted that restoring the Ferosplavna line might not guarantee the resumption of external power supplies, adding that another power line had been repaired on July 23 but had not been reconnected due to what he described as inaction by Ukrainian authorities.

Ukraine has not publicly commented on the reported ceasefire or Likhachev's remarks. Throughout the conflict, both Moscow and Kyiv have repeatedly accused each other of military actions that compromise nuclear safety. The Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe's largest nuclear power station, was seized by Russian forces in the early weeks of the 2022 invasion.