ThenMar 4, 2022
“Russia occupied the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant — Europe's largest — parking military hardware next to reactor units, using it as a fire base, causing eight external power blackouts forcing reliance on emergency diesel generators, and restricting IAEA inspector access for months.”
Russian forces seized ZNPP on March 4, 2022, and maintained military positions within the plant perimeter through 2025. IAEA Director General Grossi repeatedly called for a demilitarized safety zone — never achieved. The plant lost external power 8+ times, each time relying on diesel generators as a last line of defense against meltdown.
NowApr 4, 2026
“These illegal and reckless actions are an indelible stain on the international reputation of those who direct missiles at the Bushehr NPP and other Iranian nuclear facilities under the Agency's safeguards. They have completely undermined their previous standing in the field of nuclear nonproliferation.”
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova condemned US-Israeli strikes near the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant — a facility Russia built and staffed with 400+ Russian specialists. Rosatom CEO Likhachev called it a 'worst-case scenario' and Putin personally ordered evacuation of Russian staff.