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Greenpeace Accuses Russia of Deliberate Sabotage of Zaporizhzhia Plant Power Supply
By Drooid · · How we work
Alleged Sabotage and Disinformation
Greenpeace Ukraine and the London-based McKenzie Intelligence Services (MIS) contend that Russian forces are intentionally disrupting the electricity supply to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in occupied southeastern Ukraine and attributing the outages to Ukrainian attacks. The environmental group describes the narrative as a “massive disinformation campaign” aimed at “confuse and distract” from safety threats created by Russia’s “illegal occupation and war.”
Satellite-Imagery Analysis
MIS examined Airbus-provided satellite images of the 330 kV Ferosplavna-1 line—the plant’s sole external power source—taken from October 2025 through June 2026. The analysis focused on two incidents cited by Moscow: artillery fire on February 10 and a drone strike on June 4. MIS found that damage patterns did not match artillery impacts, which would leave visible craters and dispersed destruction, and that the alleged June 4 damage was already present before the claimed strike. Consequently, the agency concluded there is no evidence supporting Russian accusations of Ukrainian attacks on the power line.
Official Statements & Responses
- Shaun Burnie, nuclear specialist at Greenpeace Ukraine, stated that the satellite evidence disproves Ukrainian involvement and attributes the repeated loss of external power to Russian military actions against Ukraine’s grid and direct sabotage of the plant’s switchyards.
- The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations nuclear watchdog, has repeatedly emphasized that a stable electricity supply is essential for operating reactor safety systems, including cooling pumps for reactor cores and spent-fuel pools.
Verbatim Quote
“The satellite imagery and evidence is clear – Ukraine did not attack its own Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant electricity system,” — Shaun Burnie, a nuclear specialist at Greenpeace Ukraine
Implications for Nuclear Safety
The loss of external power threatens the operation of critical safety mechanisms at Zaporizhzhia. Without reliable electricity, cooling systems for both active reactor cores and spent-fuel pools could be compromised, raising the risk of a radiological incident. Greenpeace’s report underscores the urgency of securing the plant’s power supply amid ongoing conflict, warning that continued sabotage could exacerbate safety hazards already heightened by the occupation.