The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest, was reconnected to Ukraine’s electricity grid on Saturday after a three-day blackout caused by a strike on a nearby substation. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that repairs on a backup power line were carried out during a local ceasefire brokered by the agency. The plant, under Russian control since early in the war, had been forced to rely on diesel generators to keep its reactors cool, raising fears of a nuclear accident. This was the 19th time the facility lost external power since the invasion began in February 2022.

The blackout occurred amid a broader exchange of strikes on energy infrastructure. Russia’s defence ministry said its forces hit Ukrainian energy and transport facilities, while Ukraine claimed to have targeted oil and gas processing sites inside Russia. In the southern Krasnodar region, a Ukrainian drone attack killed one person and sparked a fire at a sea terminal used for crude oil and liquefied gas exports. Ukrainian officials also reported striking an oil pumping station in the Volgograd region. Viewed from Moscow, these attacks are part of Kyiv’s campaign to disrupt Russian logistics and energy revenues; from Kyiv, they are a response to relentless Russian strikes on Ukraine’s power grid.

The IAEA’s director general, Rafael Grossi, expressed concern over the intensification of military activity near the Zaporizhzhia plant, warning that it violates nuclear safety principles. The agency’s role in facilitating the repair work underscores the precarious balance between war and nuclear security. Analysts in London note that while the reconnection is a relief, the plant remains vulnerable as long as fighting continues in its vicinity. The EU, meanwhile, has begun accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova, a symbolic step that Kyiv sees as a hedge against future Russian aggression.

Looking ahead, the pattern of mutual energy strikes shows no sign of abating. Russia’s claim of shooting down 185 Ukrainian drones in a single day highlights the scale of the aerial campaign, while Ukraine’s ability to hit targets deep inside Russia demonstrates its growing reach. The Zaporizhzhia plant’s repeated blackouts serve as a stark reminder that the conflict’s toll extends beyond the battlefield, threatening a catastrophe that neither side can afford.