Experts criticize the proposal to divide Zaporizhzhia NPP power between Ukraine and Russia
Nuclear and energy sector experts reject the United States’ proposal to distribute electricity from the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) equally between Ukraine and Russia. They emphasize that this idea presents numerous technological and safety issues.
Jan Vande Putte, a leading radiation protection expert from Greenpeace, notes that it is impossible to split the energy supply between the Ukrainian and Russian systems under current conditions. He points to the different levels of technological readiness and differences in management practices between the two countries. The modern control system at ZNPP is based on Ukrainian technologies developed after 1991, and many qualified workers have already left the plant.
Dmytro Gorchakov and Alexander Nikitin from the international environmental organization Bellona note that Ukraine is synchronized with the European power grid, unlike Russia, which complicates the implementation of the division. They emphasize that implementing such a scenario would raise serious management issues, including coordinating critical operations and the language barrier between Ukrainian personnel and occupying forces.
Jamestown Foundation analyst Maksym Beznosiuk argues that this scenario legitimizes the capture of a nuclear facility and threatens Ukraine’s independence. In his view, the transfer of Kyiv’s control over parts of the energy infrastructure to Moscow could jeopardize the security of the entire country. It was previously reported that 65% of the population of temporarily occupied Enerhodar, where the ZNPP is located, has already left the city.
| Current status of Zaporizhzhia NPP | Number of employees | Left Enerhodar |
|---|---|---|
| Under Russian control | 4,000 – 5,000 | 65% of the population |
