**Russia’s Plan to Restart Captured Ukrainian Nuclear Plant Raises Alarm**
In a move that has sparked concerns about nuclear safety and the use of energy for military purposes, Russia is building power lines to connect the captured Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine to its own electrical grid. This development marks the first instance of a nation seizing another country’s nuclear facility and attempting to use it for their own energy needs.
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, located in southeastern Ukraine, was captured by Russian forces in March 2022. Despite being shut down since 2023 due to safety risks, Russia is now constructing new high-voltage electricity lines and pylons to connect the plant to its grid. According to satellite analysis by Greenpeace, 90 kilometers of power lines have been built between Mariupol and Berdiansk, with additional construction taking place east of Topolyne.
**A Nuclear Facility in the Wrong Hands**
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power complex is Europe’s largest, capable of generating up to six gigawatts of electricity. Prior to the invasion, it supplied nearly a quarter of Ukraine’s electricity needs. The plant’s capture and potential restart by Russia raises serious concerns about nuclear safety and the use of energy for military purposes.
Russian officials have explicitly stated their intention to restart the plant as quickly as possible. In December 2024, Sergey Kiriyenko, First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office, vowed to get the reactors up and running “as fast as possible.” More recently, Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev told the Russian Federation Council that a plan had been developed to return the facility to full capacity.
**A Threat to Nuclear Safety**
The situation at Zaporizhzhia highlights significant safety risks. The plant has remained offline since 2023, and its continued operation poses a threat to both Ukraine’s energy security and global nuclear safety standards. Military activity in the region has already compromised the plant’s reliability and oversight, increasing the risk of accidents or malicious attacks.
As Russia continues to build power lines and connect the Zaporizhzhia nuclear facility to its own grid, concerns about nuclear safety, energy security, and the potential for military use have never been more pressing. The international community must take a closer look at this development and consider the implications for global stability and nuclear cooperation.
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