Russia, Ukraine agree ceasefire for Zaporizhzhia NPP repairs

Ceasefire Russia vs Ukraine – (Special Correspondent / Web Desk)

Russia and Ukraine, with mediation from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), have agreed to a localized ceasefire around the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) to enable repairs on the facility’s last working backup power line.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi announced the arrangement on Friday, January 16. Ukrainian grid technicians are expected to start work soon on the 330 kV line, which was damaged and went offline due to military activity on January 2.

The IAEA today secured the agreement of both the Russian Federation and Ukraine to implement a localized ceasefire enabling repairs to begin on the last remaining backup power line to Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, IAEA Director General @rafaelmgrossi confirmed.… pic.twitter.com/39yNfLX591

— IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) January 16, 2026

IAEA teams have already left Vienna to monitor the repairs on-site near the front lines. Grossi highlighted that this marks the fourth ceasefire around the plant since the conflict began, underscoring the IAEA’s vital role in ensuring the plant’s safety.

Meanwhile, the agency is preparing a new expert mission to assess ten high-priority Ukrainian electrical substations. These facilities have become increasingly vulnerable amid continued Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. The substations, the IAEA explained, are essential for producing the electricity needed to power reactor cooling systems and other vital nuclear safety mechanisms.

The Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe’s largest nuclear facility, consists of six reactors with a combined capacity of 6,000 MW. It is located near the city of Enerhodar on the southern bank of the now-depleted Kakhovka reservoir. Russia seized control of the site in March 2022, soon after launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and placed it under the administration of Ros Energoatom.

Although all reactors at the ZNPP remain shut down, they still require constant cooling. Power for the cooling systems is drawn from the external grid, with diesel generators functioning as a backup during outages. Throughout the course of the war, the plant has been repeatedly shelled, with Moscow and Kyiv accusing each other of responsibility.

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