It would be unsafe for Russia to restart the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, and if Ukraine regained control, it could take up to two years to make the site operational again, according to the head of the company that operates the plant.
Petro Kotin, CEO of Energoatom, explained in an interview that several major challenges must be addressed before the plant can generate power safely. These include a lack of cooling water, insufficient personnel, and unstable electricity supplies.
The fate of the Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe’s largest nuclear facility, is a key point in any discussions to end the war in Ukraine. Russia seized the plant in spring 2022 and shut it down for safety reasons shortly after. It remains a critical area of conflict, situated near the Dnipro River. Russia has expressed intentions to restart the plant, though it has not set a specific timeline. Russian nuclear chief Alexey Likhachev said in February that the plant would be restarted when “military and political conditions allow.”
In the meantime, former U.S. President Donald Trump has shown interest in taking control of the plant, but this scenario is unlikely.
Kotin stated that Energoatom is ready to restart the plant, but it would require Russian forces to leave, and the site must be cleared of mines and military equipment. He emphasized that any Ukrainian restart could take anywhere from two months to two years, depending on the security situation. In contrast, restarting the plant under Russian control during wartime would be impossible, even for just one reactor.
The six reactors at the plant can only be brought back online after completing 27 safety programs required by Ukraine’s nuclear regulator. This includes testing the reactor cores, which are overdue for inspection because the nuclear fuel has surpassed its six-year “design term.”
This raises concerns about the risks of a potential Russian restart after a ceasefire. Kotin pointed out that the plant is already unsafe, as it has been used as a military base, likely with weapons and explosives present. Russia has admitted to placing mines around the plant to deter Ukrainian sabotage. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors have reported the presence of armed troops and military personnel at the site.
The U.S. Department of Energy recently reported that the plant is being operated by an “insufficiently trained” workforce, with staffing levels less than a third of what they were before the war. The report noted that although the plant’s reactors are of Soviet design, they have evolved differently from Russian reactors, particularly in safety systems. Russian-trained workers replacing Ukrainian staff lack experience with the specific models at Zaporizhzhia.
Kotin also warned that Ukraine would likely reject any attempt by Russia to restart the plant. The process would require reconnecting three additional high-voltage power lines, which had been severed by Russian forces. Only two power lines remain, one of which has been repeatedly disrupted by shelling, forcing the plant to rely on backup generators.
Experts also say a new pumping station is needed to provide sufficient cooling water, which became even more critical after the destruction of the Nova Kakhova dam in June 2023. This dam, downstream from the plant, had previously supplied much of the water needed for cooling.
Meanwhile, ongoing missile attacks in Ukraine have resulted in civilian casualties, with two people reported killed in recent Russian strikes. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Russia has launched over 1,460 guided aerial bombs, nearly 670 attack drones, and more than 30 missiles in the past week. He noted that the frequency of air attacks is rising.
Diplomatic efforts, including U.S.-brokered ceasefire talks, have so far made little progress. Both sides have agreed to stop attacking energy infrastructure, although each accuses the other of violations. Additionally, a maritime ceasefire that Ukraine agreed to has not been accepted by Russia.
A Russian official involved in the talks stated that there could be more diplomatic discussions between Russia and the U.S. as early as next week.
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