Russia is building power lines in the occupied territories of Ukraine. According to The New York Times, these efforts may be aimed at connecting the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) to the Russian energy system. The publication draws this conclusion from a new report provided by Greenpeace.
Satellite images published by Greenpeace show that since February 2025, more than 80 kilometers of power lines have been built along the Azov Sea between the occupied cities of Mariupol and Berdyansk.
According to experts, these lines are being connected to a large substation near Mariupol. This substation is connected to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, located 225 kilometers away.
According to Sean Berney, Greenpeace's nuclear energy expert, these images are the first time that Russian President Vladimir Putin has openly confirmed plans to launch the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
The New York Times notes that Moscow's specific plans remain unclear. The question remains open: does Russia plan to launch the nuclear power plant after the war, or does it intend to do so while the fighting continues?
According to experts, several more power lines will need to be built to fully connect the NPP to the Russian energy system.
The newspaper considers this situation as the first in history where one state can seize another state's nuclear facility and use it for its own needs.
This contradicts the efforts of the US, in particular the Donald Trump administration, to find a solution through peaceful negotiations regarding the station's future
