Russia, Ukraine agree to localised ceasefire for Zaporizhzhia NPP repairs

Russia and Ukraine have reached an agreement, through the mediation of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on a localised ceasefire around the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) to allow repair work on the facility’s last functioning backup power line.

The arrangement was announced on Friday, January 16, by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, as per foreign media reports.

According to the agency, Ukrainian grid operator technicians are expected to begin repairs in the coming days on the 330 kV line, which was damaged and taken offline following military action on January 2.

IAEA teams have already departed Vienna to monitor the operation directly on site, near the front line. Grossi noted that this latest pause in hostilities is the fourth ceasefire established around the plant since the beginning of the conflict, emphasising that it highlights the IAEA’s critical role.

Meanwhile, the agency is preparing a new expert mission to assess ten high-priority Ukrainian electrical substations. These facilities have become increasingly vulnerable amid continued Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. The substations, the IAEA explained, are essential for producing the electricity needed to power reactor cooling systems and other vital nuclear safety mechanisms.

The Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe’s largest nuclear facility, consists of six reactors with a combined capacity of 6,000 MW. It is located near the city of Enerhodar on the southern bank of the now-depleted Kakhovka reservoir. Russia seized control of the site in March 2022, soon after launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and placed it under the administration of Rosenergoatom.

Although all reactors at the ZNPP remain shut down, they still require constant cooling. Power for the cooling systems is drawn from the external grid, with diesel generators functioning as a backup during outages. Throughout the course of the war, the plant has been repeatedly shelled, with Moscow and Kyiv accusing each other of responsibility.

The question of who will control the Zaporizhzhia plant after the war has emerged as a central issue in discussions on potential pathways to a peace agreement in Ukraine, with the United States acting as a key intermediary.

By Tamilla Hasanova