Greenpeace exposes Russian disinformation over strikes on Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

What Happened

Greenpeace Ukraine and London-based McKenzie Intelligence Services (MIS) published an analysis using high-resolution satellite imagery that they say found no evidence to support Russian claims that Ukrainian artillery struck the Ferrosplavna 330 kV switchyard on 10 February 2026 or that more than 20 Ukrainian UAVs attacked it on 4 June 2026. The analysis said damage to the switchyard unit is confirmed, but that some damage attributed by Russia to the 4 June drone attack was already present before that date and that satellite data does not support Russian assertions that the damage was caused by Ukrainian artillery or drones. The Ferrosplavna 330 kV line is one of two off-site power transmission lines supplying the Russian-seized Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP); the other, the Dniprovska 750 kV line, has been out of service since 22 May 2026 after Russian military attacks severely damaged the Dniprovska substation about 100 km north of the plant. Greenpeace Ukraine claims Russia is intentionally carrying out sabotage and deliberately disabling ZNPP power supply lines. Since Russian troops seized the plant in 2022, the ZNPP has experienced 26 complete losses of off-site power; 14 of these have occurred since February 2026.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The ZNPP has six reactor units and six spent fuel pools containing hundreds of tonnes of highly radioactive fuel; off-site power is required to run cooling pumps. Complete losses of off-site power force reliance on emergency diesel generators, and repeated losses degrade that backup equipment. The analysis challenges Russian attribution of damage and suggests attacks on Ukraine's power grid are increasingly affecting nuclear safety, raising the risk of a radiological incident at a plant under Russian military control.

Watch For

Monitor whether Russian officials produce evidence to substantiate the claimed 10 February 2026 artillery strike and 4 June 2026 UAV attack; whether the Dniprovska 750 kV line is restored; and whether additional complete off-site power losses at the ZNPP occur. Also watch for any IAEA statements or damage assessments regarding the Ferrosplavna 330 kV switchyard and the Dniprovska substation.