Strike cuts power to Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant: IAEA
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500+ questions on Current Affairs & GK with explanations
📌 Summary:
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An overnight strike cut off external electricity supply to Ukraine's Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant — Europe's largest — the IAEA said on June 11, 2026.
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No release of radioactivity was detected and radiation levels remained normal, the UN nuclear watchdog confirmed.
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Loss of off-site power forces a plant to rely on emergency diesel generators to keep cooling systems running and prevent a meltdown.
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Highlights the danger to nuclear safety from armed conflict around nuclear installations.
🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 IR / GS3 (nuclear safety and security) — the role of the IAEA, the vulnerability of nuclear facilities in conflict zones, and international nuclear-safety norms.
📝 Prelims Facts:
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IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), headquartered in Vienna, promotes peaceful use of nuclear energy and safeguards; it is an autonomous body reporting to the UN.
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Zaporizhzhia is Europe's largest nuclear power plant, located in Ukraine.
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Off-site power and back-up generators are essential to run reactor cooling even when reactors are shut down.
🔑 Key Term: Off-site power — external grid electricity that nuclear plants need to run cooling and safety systems; its loss triggers reliance on emergency generators.
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