Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha issued a stark warning on Saturday, September 21, alleging that Russia is planning strikes on the country’s nuclear facilities ahead of winter. This chilling accusation has escalated concerns about a potential nuclear disaster as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues to rage.
Sybiha, citing Ukrainian intelligence, claimed that the Kremlin is specifically targeting critical nuclear energy infrastructure, including open distribution devices at nuclear power plants and transmission substations. He expressed his worry on X, formerly Twitter, stating, “According to Ukrainian intelligence, the Kremlin is preparing strikes on Ukrainian nuclear energy critical objects ahead of winter.” In response to this alarming threat, Sybiha urged Ukraine’s allies and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to establish permanent monitoring missions at Ukrainian nuclear plants to prevent a catastrophe.
While Sybiha did not provide further details to substantiate Kyiv’s claims, Moscow has not yet responded. The IAEA, the UN’s nuclear watchdog, has also remained silent on these allegations.
The warning triggered a strong reaction from Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He called for an urgent international response, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. “This is preparation for a possible nuclear disaster scenario. Russia is a terrorist,” Yermak wrote on Telegram. “They must be stopped here and now. The countries of the West and the Global South must react harshly to preparations for terror.”
Since launching its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Russia has relentlessly targeted Ukraine’s energy grid, causing significant damage to much of its thermal power infrastructure. While Russian forces have relentlessly bombarded dams and power stations, nuclear facilities under Ukrainian control have, until now, been spared direct attacks.
The recent warning comes after Ukraine previously accused Moscow of engaging in nuclear blackmail following the seizure of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest, by Russian forces in March 2022. Although Moscow has denied any intentions of triggering a nuclear incident, both sides have repeatedly blamed each other for shelling near the plant, fueling fears of a catastrophic event.
IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi, who has visited both Ukraine and Russia multiple times during the war, has consistently urged restraint, highlighting the grave risk posed by military activity near nuclear sites. “I think it is always a risk when there is a possibility of an attack on a nuclear power plant,” Grossi stated earlier this month during a visit to Kyiv.
As winter approaches and tensions continue to escalate, Ukraine is demanding swift action to protect its nuclear facilities from what it perceives as an imminent threat from Russian aggression. The international community is now facing a crucial test as it grapples with the potential consequences of Russia’s actions and the urgency of preventing a nuclear disaster.
