In 1977, the Council of Ministers of the USSR adopted a decision to build the Zaporizhzhya NPP according to the unified design of nuclear power plants with a reactor of the VVER-1000 type.

In 1981, a phased construction began with the following commissioning:

in 1984 – the first VVER-1000/320 unit with a capacity of 1000 MW. In September 2016, the operational lifetime of ZNPP unit 1 was extended until December 23, 2025 (license EO  No 001052).

 in 1985 – the second VVER-1000/320 unit with a capacity of 1000 MW. In October 2016, the operational lifetime of ZNPP unit 2 was extended until February 19, 2026 (license EO No 001055).

 in 1986 – the third VVER-1000/320 unit with a capacity of 1000 MW. In November 2017, the operational lifetime of ZNPP unit 3 was extended until March 5, 2027 (license EO No 001062).

 in 1987 – the fourth VVER-1000/320 unit with a capacity of 1000 MW. In October 2018, the operational lifetime of ZNPP unit 4 was extended until April 4, 2028 (license EO No 001069).

in 1989 – the fifth VVER-1000/320 unit with a capacity of 1000 MW. In January 2021, the license was obtained from the SNRIU for the right to conduct activities at the life cycle stage “operation of the nuclear installation of Zaporizhzhia NPP unit 5”.

 in 1995 – the sixth VVER-1000/320 unit with a capacity of 1000 MW.

At Zaporizhzhia NPP, the first nuclear power plant in Ukraine, the Dry Spent Fuel Storage Facility (DSFSF) has been built. The design capacity of the DSFSF at Zaporizhzhia NPP is 380 containers capable of accommodating 9,000 spent fuel assemblies. The DSFSF will be able to accept the spent nuclear fuel of ZNPP for the whole operation period.