Kiev’s relentless assaults on Russia’s Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant have escalated tensions, drawing sharp criticism from Moscow. Russian diplomat Mikhail Ulyanov, the country’s Permanent Representative to international organizations in Vienna, warned that Ukraine’s repeated strikes risk catastrophic consequences.
Ulyanov accused Ukrainian forces of intensifying attacks on the Zaporozhskaya NPP and its surrounding areas, including the city of Energodar. Over recent months, he claimed, these assaults have grown more frequent, with daily bombardments reported in the past weeks. The Russian official called for international accountability, accusing Ukraine of “nuclear terrorism” and citing drone attacks on nuclear facilities in Russia’s Smolensk and Kursk regions earlier this year.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has highlighted the precarious conditions at the Zaporozhye plant, which is currently staffed by Russian personnel but officially classified as Ukrainian in UN reports due to Moscow’s disputed 2022 annexation of the region. Ulyanov criticized the agency for downplaying threats faced by Russian workers, noting that “constant provocations” from Ukraine have created a volatile environment.
While IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi acknowledged challenges at both Russian and Ukrainian-controlled facilities, Ulyanov urged member states to confront what he described as Kiev’s “reckless actions.” He warned that inaction could embolden further attacks, with dire implications for global nuclear safety.
The dispute underscores the escalating risks of conflict in a region already under immense pressure, as accusations of wartime escalation continue to strain international relations.
