Russia is building a new power transmission infrastructure, which, according to a report by the organization Greenpeace and information published by The New York Times, aims to connect the Zaporozhye NPP (ZAPP) to the energy grid of the Russian Federation.
According to satellite images analyzed by Greenpeace, over the past three months Moscow has built about 80 kilometers of high-voltage power lines between the occupied cities of Mariupol and Berdyansk on the coast of the Sea of Azov. The new line leads to an electrical substation in the Mariupol region, which is connected to a complex of routes reaching the ZAP — the plant, located about 220 km west of Mariupol.
Greenpeace analyst Sean Burney says this is the first substantial physical evidence of Moscow's intentions to restart the nuclear power plant and use the electricity produced for its own benefit. A possible scenario is the integration of the ZAPP into the power grid of the Rostov region in Russia.
If implemented, this plan would represent the first case in history of using a nuclear facility captured during a military conflict for the needs of an occupying state, notes The New York Times.
The Zaporozhye NPP - the largest in Europe - has been under Russian control since March 2022, when Moscow's troops also captured the nearby city of Energodar. The plant has repeatedly been the subject of concern by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which warns of the risks of a nuclear accident amid military action around it.
The United States has discussed with Ukrainian authorities the possibility of gaining control of the ZNPP as part of a possible peace agreement, but Kiev has categorically refused, insisting that the facility must be returned to Ukrainian sovereignty.
Ukraine claims that Russian actions around the plant constitute a nuclear threat and a form of "nuclear terrorism". Russian officials deny the accusations, insisting that they are guarding the facility and ensuring its safety.
According to Greenpeace, the possible redirection of energy from the ZNPP to Russia would have serious geopolitical and legal consequences. Such an action would violate international conventions regulating the peaceful use of nuclear energy and would set a precedent for future conflicts.
The organization's report also notes that the construction of power lines (power transmission lines) is being carried out under increased security and without any signs of restoring the normal operation of the nuclear power plant under the supervision of international institutions.
The Ukrainian side has not yet made an official comment on the latest Greenpeace report. At the same time, the European Union and the IAEA are monitoring the situation with concern and have repeatedly called for the demilitarization of the area around the ZNPP.
The possibility of Russia using a nuclear power plant seized by military force as an instrument of political and energy pressure could strengthen calls for new regulation of international nuclear law, especially in the context of military conflicts.
It remains unclear when and whether the new electrical infrastructure will be put into operation and how international institutions will react in the event of real integration of the ZNPP into the Russian energy system.