Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Faces 16th Blackout This Year, Runs on Generators

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant lost external power overnight on November 8, marking the 16th blackout at the facility since the start of 2026. The plant is now operating solely on backup diesel generators. The outage occurred at 02:36 when the last operating 330 kV line, "Ferroalloy-1," connecting the plant to Ukraine's power grid, was lost. An automatic reconnection attempt failed, and Energoatom warned this poses a critical threat to nuclear and radiation safety. Energoatom stated the systematic power losses result from the plant's occupation, adding that safety can only be restored if Ukraine regains full control. The company also noted Russian forces use the site for military purposes, including deploying weapons and launching drones.