Satellite Images Reveal Russian Plan to Restart Seized Nuclear Plant
Russia builds over 50 miles of power lines to connect Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to its own grid. Experts warn restarting the plant poses major safety risks amid war conditions.
Satellite imagery confirms Russia is constructing major power infrastructure in occupied southeastern Ukraine, signaling plans to restart the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and link it to its national grid, according to a new Greenpeace report verified by The New York Times.
The Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe's largest nuclear facility, was seized by Russia early in the war. Though its six reactors were shut down in 2023, recent satellite images show Russia building more than 50 miles of high-voltage transmission lines from Mariupol toward Berdyansk, aiming to connect the plant to a substation near the Azov Sea.
“This is the first physical evidence of Putin’s plan for restarting the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant,” said Shaun Burnie of Greenpeace Ukraine.
Russian officials have long discussed restoring the plant’s capacity. Rosatom CEO Alexei Likhachev confirmed a plan exists and acknowledged the major obstacle is rebuilding the power grid.
Restarting the facility could mark the first instance of a warring power capturing and operationalizing another country’s nuclear infrastructure. Experts have warned that after years of conflict, damaged equipment, staff departures, and the destruction of a nearby dam make operations highly risky.
“Any attempts by Russian representatives to restart power units could lead to unpredictable consequences,” Ukraine’s Energy Minister Herman Galushchenko warned.
The Trump administration had proposed a peace plan that involved returning the plant to Ukraine under U.S. control, allowing it to supply power to both Ukraine and Russia. Moscow rejected the idea outright, insisting that Rosatom alone will operate the facility.
Despite the geopolitical standoff, the construction project indicates Russia is moving ahead with its own strategy to exploit Zaporizhzhia's capacity—capable of generating electricity for an entire country like Portugal.