Russia and the United States have discussed the possibility of jointly managing the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, including using its electricity for Bitcoin mining, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, according to remarks cited by Kommersant and reposted by KyivPost. The talks did not include Ukraine, Putin added, even though the plant remains on Ukrainian territory under international law. Putin said U.S. representatives showed interest in directing excess electricity from the facility toward cryptocurrency mining operations. At the same time, he claimed Washington also raised the idea of supplying electricity from the plant to Ukraine. Kyiv has not confirmed any such discussions and has repeatedly opposed arrangements that bypass Ukrainian authorities. The Zaporizhzhia facility, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, has been under Russian control since March 2022. Its status remains one of the most sensitive issues in the war, touching on energy security, nuclear safety, and sovereignty. Control Talks Sideline Ukraine According to Putin, discussions with the United States focused on “joint management” of the plant without Ukraine’s involvement. He said Ukrainian technical staff continue to work at the facility but now hold Russian passports, a claim Ukrainian officials have previously rejected as illegitimate. Ukrainian authorities have instead promoted alternative frameworks. In recent comments reported by RBC Ukraine , Kyiv proposed a model of joint operation that would involve Ukraine and international partners, not bilateral talks between Moscow and Washington. Ukrainian officials argue that any governance arrangement must restore Ukrainian control and ensure demilitarization of the site. The International Atomic Energy Agency has maintained a presence at Zaporizhzhia and continues to warn about safety risks linked to military activity near the plant. Power disruptions and reliance on backup systems have kept the facility in a fragile operating state. Energy Crisis and Crypto Angle The comments come as Ukraine enters winter with a strained power grid. A recent report by The Wall Street Journal described ongoing attacks on energy infrastructure that have forced rolling outages across the country, increasing pressure to secure stable electricity supplies. Against that backdrop, the idea of using nuclear-generated power for crypto mining adds a new dimension to the dispute. Bitcoin mining requires large, steady energy inputs, and nuclear plants provide consistent baseload power. However, critics argue that raising crypto mining in talks about a war-zone nuclear facility highlights how far negotiations have drifted from Ukraine’s priorities. Kyiv has said it will not recognize any agreements over Zaporizhzhia made without its consent. For now, claims of U.S. interest in crypto mining remain unconfirmed by Washington, while the plant’s future stays tied to broader negotiations over territory and security.
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