Power is restored to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

Energoatom and the U.N. nuclear watchdog reported on Sunday that external power to the nuclear plant in Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia was restored.

The nuclear blocks had to be cooled by diesel generators after the cold-shuttered plant lost its last power line early Saturday morning due to shelling.

"After nearly two days of powering the emergency cooling pumps of the active reactor zones with diesel generators, the operational staff are returning to their normal routine," Energoatom announced via Telegram.

Rafael Grossi, the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, confirmed that power had been restored.

"Our team in #Zaporizhzhya confirms that the offsite power line that was lost yesterday has been restored, and #ZNPP has been reconnected to the grid," Grossi tweeted, reiterating his call for a protection zone around the facility.

After Russian soldiers seized Ukraine in February, Ukrainian employees remained at the plant.

Moscow and Kyiv accuse one another of shelling Europe's largest nuclear plant, which damaged buildings and sparked nuclear disaster fears.