Power Lines Repaired, but Full Operation Still Pending at Zaporizhzhya

Ukraine’s largest nuclear plant has made progress on its power system after a brief pause in fighting. The international body that monitors nuclear safety confirmed that teams finished fixing two crucial pieces of equipment during a short local ceasefire. The work focused on the 750‑kilovolt line that runs along the Dnipro River and a switchyard at the nearby thermal plant, which supplies backup power to the nuclear site. The Dnipro line was repaired, but it cannot yet be used because its connecting substation suffered major damage. Officials say the substation repairs are still in progress and will not be finished soon. Meanwhile, the switchyard at the thermal plant was also restored, helping to keep the nuclear plant supplied with electricity through an alternative 330‑kilovolt route.

Despite these repairs, the main power line remains offline. The agency’s head noted that although the line is fixed, it has not been re‑connected to the grid. The lack of full operation means that the nuclear plant continues to rely on backup systems until the substation can be brought back online. The repairs were carried out under a temporary stop‑fire that allowed workers to reach the damaged sites. This pause in hostilities was crucial for maintaining safety standards at the plant, which is a key part of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. The situation remains fluid. The international watchdog will keep monitoring the plant’s status, and further updates will follow as the substation repairs move closer to completion.

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