(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the gravity of the situation at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, following a complete power outage about a week ago.

Zelenskyy added, in a video address, that one of the emergency power generators had gone out of service seven days after the external power lines were cut off.

"This is the seventh day. There has never before been such an emergency situation at the Zaporizhzhia plant. The situation is critical. Russian shelling has cut the plant off from the electricity network," Zelenskyy said.

"We have information that one of the diesel generators has stopped working," he added.

The Zaporizhzhia plant, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, has been under Russian control since March 2022, about a month after the outbreak of the Russian military operation in Ukraine. However, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regularly deploys a team of experts at the site.

The plant has previously been targeted by strikes, causing eight power outages. The plant is in a delicate situation, raising fears of a major nuclear accident. Kyiv and Moscow are trading accusations of planning to cause an accident at the site.

Ukrainian Zaporizhzhia nuclear emergency

MENAFN01102025000067011011ID1110134909