VIENNA - The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) is facing an unsustainable nuclear safety situation after being without external power for more than a week, the UN nuclear watchdog said Tuesday in a statement.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi said that the agency has been engaging with both Russia and Ukraine to facilitate the restoration of offsite power to the ZNPP as soon as possible.

The plant suffered its tenth complete loss of offsite power on Sept 23 when its only remaining power line was damaged by military activity about 1.5 km away. Emergency diesel generators then automatically started operating to provide electricity for safety systems and to cool the six reactors and spent fuel.

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"While the plant is currently coping thanks to its emergency diesel generators - the last line of defense - and there is no immediate danger as long as they keep working, it is clearly not a sustainable situation in terms of nuclear safety. Neither side would benefit from a nuclear accident," Grossi warned.