During a UN Security Council meeting in New York on September 24, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a warning that Russia is preparing to attack three nuclear power plants in Ukraine. Zelensky stressed that such an attack would demonstrate Russia’s disregard for anything the world values.
“If Russia is ready to go that far, it means nothing you value matters to Moscow,” Zelensky told the Council.
He did not disclose which specific nuclear plants are under threat but claimed to have evidence of Russia’s plans.
Ukraine currently has three operational nuclear plants in its territory: the Rivne and Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plants in the west, and the Pivdennoukrainsk nuclear power plant in the south. These facilities have been repeatedly endangered by Russian attacks that cut off power to critical units.
According to the Kyiv Independent, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe's largest, has been under Russian control since March 2022 and remains disconnected from Ukraine’s power grid due to regular attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
Growing Threat to Nuclear Safety
Recent days have seen increased warnings from Kyiv regarding potential attacks on Ukraine’s nuclear infrastructure.
On September 21, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha pointed to possible Russian targets, including open distribution devices and transmission substations, which are crucial for the safe operation of Ukraine’s nuclear energy system.
Zelensky also claimed that Chinese satellites have been used by Russia to take photographs of Ukraine’s nuclear sites, hinting at the potential preparation for future strikes. Ukraine has shared its concerns with international partners and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
