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Russian authorities have accused Ukraine of engaging in nuclear terrorism by carrying out repeated strikes against the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), the largest nuclear facility in Europe. According to statements reported by TASS, Russian officials warn that these attacks could trigger a radiation catastrophe affecting Ukraine and broader Europe.Coverage
Escalating Attacks and Accusations of Nuclear Terrorism
Rodion Miroshnik, Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador at Large, told TASS that Ukraine's attacks on the plant's infrastructure are deliberate provocations, demonstrating a readiness to resort to any means out of desperation. In a separate statement, Miroshnik said Kiev has "openly taken the path of nuclear terrorism" by targeting core equipment at the plant. He added that the world faces the task of "harnessing the nuclear terrorist," as the actions threaten not only Russians and Ukrainians but others as well.Maria Zakharova, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman, stated that the ongoing attacks by the Ukrainian military on nuclear power facilities would have been impossible without the support of Kiev's Western sponsors. She claimed that such provocations are enabled by the "reckless support of Western curators," who instill a false sense of impunity in the Ukrainian authorities. Zakharova also noted that each new attack is "larger in scale and more reckless," with strikes increasingly targeting the plant's main equipment and nuclear material.
Threats to Nuclear Safety and Potential Radiation Disaster
Several Russian officials have emphasized the risk of a major radiation incident. Alexey Likhachev, CEO of Rosatom, stated that a Ukrainian drone attack on the ZNPP was deliberate and serves as a direct "precursor to a nuclear incident." He noted that about 500 tons of nuclear material are stored in the plant's reactors, with another 2,600 tons stored outside, and that an explosion could carry radioactive materials to neighboring countries.Leonid Ivlev, a member of the Russian State Duma from Crimea, warned that the Ukrainian armed forces are provoking a radiation catastrophe that would affect Europe. He cited the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster and called on the international community to impose strict demands on Ukraine to prevent further shelling.
Specific Incidents and Casualties
According to TASS reports, a Ukrainian fiber-optic drone struck the turbine hall of the plant's Unit 6 on May 30, with damage documented by IAEA experts. The attack site was located several meters from the reactor. On June 5, during a period of agreed silence for repairs to a power line, Ukrainian forces attacked the area around the Dneprovskaya line, injuring three civilian specialists and five soldiers. The plant was left completely de-energized, relying on backup diesel generators.In May, attacks intensified, including strikes on the plant's transport facility, destroying buses and vehicles. The plant reported that attacks on buses transporting employees have been repeatedly recorded, creating additional risks to the stable operation of the facility and the safety of its personnel.