Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Loses Power Amid Massive Russian Strikes
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant switched to backup generators after losing external power during a wave of Russian drone and missile attacks across Ukraine.
The Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant lost its last operating external power line on November 8, 2026, marking the 16th such outage this year. The facility switched to backup diesel generators to maintain safety-critical equipment after protective systems disconnected the Ferosplavna power line due to damage. Plant officials reported that radiation levels remain normal and personnel are monitoring operational parameters.
The outage occurred during a massive Russian aerial campaign involving 164 drones and three guided air-to-ground missiles targeting 23 locations across Ukraine. The Ukrainian Air Force neutralized 137 of the drones. Overnight strikes on energy infrastructure in the Zhytomyr and Dnipropetrovsk regions left over 600,000 people without electricity in Dnipropetrovsk alone.
In response, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine conducted precision strikes against four Russian drone command centers in Berdiansk, Oleshky, Bilytske, and Aleksandrovskoye. The Ukrainian military stated that disabling these command posts would reduce the number of Russian drones over supply roads and positions. Additionally, the General Staff reported that Russian forces suffered 16,130 casualties between November 1 and November 7.
