Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sîbiga, has issued a grave warning that Russia is planning to strike key nuclear facilities in Ukraine before the arrival of winter.
Colder Weather Approaches
In a Saturday post on X (formerly Twitter), Sîbiga referenced Ukrainian intelligence, which indicates that the Kremlin is preparing attacks on critical nuclear infrastructure.
This warning comes amidst growing concerns over the safety and stability of Ukraine's energy grid as colder weather approaches.
"According to Ukrainian intelligence, the Kremlin is preparing strikes on critical nuclear targets in Ukraine before winter arrives," Sîbiga wrote.
He highlighted that the primary targets appear to be open distribution devices and transmission substations, which are vital for the safe operation of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, according to Digi24.
Permanent Monitoring Missions
Sîbiga called on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Ukraine’s international allies to set up permanent monitoring missions at the country's nuclear plants. The aim is to ensure the security of these critical facilities in the event of Russian strikes, which could have catastrophic consequences if successful.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, Russia has focused its airstrike campaigns on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, particularly during the colder months.
Though numerous thermal power plants and energy distribution points have been damaged or destroyed, no Ukrainian-controlled nuclear plants have been directly attacked so far.
However, Russia took control of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest, in March 2022, which has led to ongoing international fears of a nuclear incident.
