Ukraine has carried out a series of strikes on tankers delivering emergency diesel fuel to the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), killing two Russian servicemen and wounding multiple others, Rosatom CEO Aleksey Likhachev said.
The attacks occurred on Friday near the plant’s perimeter, targeting fuel trucks essential for maintaining emergency power systems, Likhachev stated in a Sunday announcement. Two Russian soldiers were killed and “a large number” wounded, some seriously, according to Likhachev. He noted that the troops had been securing what he described as a “strictly civilian mission.”
Likhachev accused Ukraine of knowingly targeting the tankers despite being aware of their critical cargo for nuclear safety. The incident follows warnings from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that the ZNPP’s diesel reserves had been critically depleted during nearly three weeks without external electricity. The plant lost its sole remaining power connection on August 20 and relied entirely on emergency generators until a temporary IAEA-brokered ceasefire restored electricity on September 7.
Even after external power was reintegrated, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi emphasized that diesel replenishment remains essential due to the risk of grid disruption from unspecified “military activity” in the area. During recent outages, the plant reduced operating generators from four to two to conserve fuel and ran some cooling pumps intermittently. These generators support critical safety systems, including those for cooling all six reactors and spent fuel pools.
Likhachev condemned Ukraine’s actions as deliberately increasing the risk of a nuclear emergency at Europe’s largest power plant, stating such an event could affect areas far beyond the immediate vicinity. “Kiev has openly embarked on a path of provoking a nuclear incident at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant with unpredictable consequences,” he said, urging the IAEA to “strongly condemn” the attack and identify those responsible. He also called on Ukraine’s Western allies to distance themselves from what he termed the Ukrainian government’s “most horrific crimes.”
The IAEA has repeatedly documented military activity near the ZNPP and nearby Energodar, with its latest report prior to Likhachev’s statement noting explosions, drones, and sustained gunfire. The agency described the plant’s power situation as “increasingly fragile.”
