Another local ceasefire brokered by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is now in effect to enable restoration of the 330 kV Ferosplavnaya-1 backup power supply to the Zaporizhia NPP (ZNPP). “Demining activities are ongoing to ensure safe access for the repair teams,” IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said.
Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev noted that repairs have begun on the Ferrosplavnaya-1 power line and the Zaporizhia Thermal Power Plant’s open switchgear, which were allegedly damaged by Ukrainian attacks. “A local ceasefire has been established in the area of the ZNPP. This allowed the repair teams, including Rosatom specialists, to start work on restoring the open switchgear of the Zaporizhia thermal power plant and the Ferrosplavnaya line, which were damaged on 10 February 10 as a result of fire from Ukrainian formations. The work itself will take at least a week,” he told reporters.
He added that over the past six months, this is the fifth case when it has been necessary to resort to a ceasefire to ensure repair work. In September-October of last year, the plant lost its external power supply for a whole month. Further ceasefires were introduced in November and December 2025, as well as in January 2026. The situation in the operators town of Energodar “remains unsettled” with frequent power losses.
Yevgeniya Yashina, ZNPP Director of Communications said that the presence of IAEA experts is expected to continue during the restoration of the damaged external power supply line. She also noted that the repair work is complex and cannot be completed quickly.
Meanwhile ZNPP Plant Director Yuriy Chernichuk told Ria Novosti that all ZNPP power units must undergo a licensing procedure in accordance with Russian requirements for safe operation by 1 January 2028. A 10-year operating licence for unit 1 was issued by regulator Rostechnadzor in December 2025 and for unit 2 on 18 February. “In 2026, we plan to obtain a licence for unit 6, and the remaining units (3, 4 & 5) will be licensed in 2027,” he said.
He added that this would have no effect on the work of the staff. The licences would create legal conditions for possible changes in the operation of the power units in the future. This will require an appropriate decision and the unconditional fulfilment of all licence requirements, including ensuring safety guarantees.
He noted that the cooling tower, which was damaged by a Ukrainian drone in August 2024, will be restored. “The cooling tower will be restored. This is not currently a top priority for the operation of the station. But in parallel with the process of deploying the units, it will be restored, the necessary repairs will be performed, and it will be put into operation. This is a fairly large amount of repair work.”
