It would be dangerous for Russia to restart the captured Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, and it would take Ukraine up to two years to accomplish this in times of peace if they were to regain control, according to Petro Kotin, the chief executive of Energoatom, the company operating the vast six-reactor facility.
Kotin stated in an interview that there are “major problems” to address—such as inadequate cooling water, personnel, and electrical supply—before the plant can safely resume power generation.
The future of the Zaporizhzhia plant, the largest nuclear reactor in Europe, is a crucial aspect of any potential peace negotiations to end the conflict in Ukraine. Seized by Russia in early 2022 and subsequently shut down for safety reasons, it remains a focal point of the conflict, situated near the Dnipro River.
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Russia has announced its intention to keep control of the site and restart it, without specifying a timeline. Alexey Likhachev, head of Russian nuclear operator Rosatom, stated in February that the plant would be reactivated “when military and political conditions allow.”
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has expressed interest in taking control of the plant; however, this proposition is considered highly unlikely.
Kotin stated that Energoatom is prepared to restart the plant but would require the removal of Russian forces and for the site to undergo de-mining and demilitarization.
A restart by Ukraine could take anywhere “from two months to two years” in a secure environment, while a Russian restart during wartime “would be impossible, even for one unit [reactor].”
Bringing the six reactors back online would require the completion of 27 safety programs agreed upon with Ukraine’s nuclear regulator, including tests on the nuclear fuel, which has exceeded its six-year “design term.”
This raises questions about Russia’s ability to restart the plant after a ceasefire without incurring significant risks, as the site is currently used as “a military base with military vehicles present” and possibly contains arms and explosives.
Russia has acknowledged placing mines between the inner and outer perimeters of the plant “to deter potential Ukrainian saboteurs,” while IAEA inspectors have confirmed the presence of armed troops and military personnel at the site.
Last month, the US Department of Energy reported that the Zaporizhzhia plant is operated by an “inadequate and insufficiently trained cadre of workers,” with staffing levels below a third of pre-war levels.
Kotin emphasized that a Russian attempt to restart the plant would likely not be accepted or supported by Ukraine and would require the reconnection of three additional 750kV high-voltage lines.
A nuclear reactor requires substantial power for daily operations, and three of the four high-voltage lines were from territories now occupied by Russia. Russia allegedly destroyed these lines, only to discover later that engineers could not rebuild them as the conflict continued.
Only two lines remain to keep the site in cold shutdown: a 750kV line from Ukraine and a further 330kV line, although shelling has intermittently disrupted energy supply, forcing reliance on backup generators.
Experts indicate the need for a pumping station at the site, given the inadequate supply of cooling water, which was exacerbated by Russian soldiers’ destruction of the Nova Kakhova dam downstream in June 2023.
Two civilians were reportedly killed in Russian missile attacks on Sunday, including one in Kyiv; meanwhile, Russia claimed to have captured a border village near Sumy in northeastern Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned that Russia had launched over 1,460 guided aerial bombs, nearly 670 attack drones, and over 30 missiles in the past week, indicating an increase in air attacks.
US-brokered ceasefire talks have seen limited progress. Both sides agreed to stop attacking energy targets but accuse each other of violations; a maritime ceasefire proposed by Ukraine has not been accepted by Russia.
A Russian official involved in the negotiations mentioned that diplomatic contacts between Russia and the US could resume as early as next week.
