Zelenskyy: ZNPP will not start working without restoration of Kakhovka dam. What it means
24 December 2025 15:33
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that without the restoration of the Kakhovka dam, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant will not be able to operate, and the cost of reconstruction is estimated at €2 billion, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
According to him, the key condition is the demilitarization of ZNPP, Enerhodar and Kakhovka HPP, which are currently under the control of Russian troops.
Why Kakhovka Dam is critical for ZNPP
The Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant and reservoir were key to the cooling system of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. After the dam was blown up in 2023, the plant lost a stable source of water, making it impossible to operate safely in the long term.
According to Zelenskyy, without the restoration of the hydroelectric facility, “there will be no normal and safe operation of ZNPP,” regardless of who formally controls the facility.
Who should pay for the restoration
The President estimated the cost of rebuilding the Kakhovka dam at €2 billion and emphasized that Russia is not interested in investing in this project.
“The only thing they need is drinking water to Crimea,” Zelenskyy said.
He suggested that the United States could quickly implement an infrastructure project that would provide water supply, while emphasizing that water from the restored dam would be available not only for Crimea but for the entire region.
Demilitarization as a key condition
Zelensky emphasized that the restoration of the dam and the launch of the ZNPP are possible only after the withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of the plant, Enerhodar and Kakhovka HPP.
Currently, he said, there are no security conditions there, which makes any technical or investment decisions impossible.
The idea of joint management of ZNPP
The President also confirmed that the United States had proposed a format for joint use of the Zaporizhzhia NPP by Ukraine and Russia, but no agreements have been reached on this issue.
Earlier, Zelenskyy had repeatedly stated that if the plant remained under Russian control, it would not operate, as Ukraine does not recognize the occupation and cannot guarantee nuclear safety in such conditions.
Permanent risks to nuclear safety
The situation around ZNPP remains unstable.
on December 6, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said that the plant had once again – for the twelfth time since the start of the full-scale war – temporarily lost all external power.
