Russia Launches Attacks on Ukrainian Nuclear Plants, Sparking Fears

A recent wave of drone and missile attacks by Russia targeted key energy infrastructure in Ukraine, including substations that supply power to the Khmelnytskyi and Rivne nuclear power plants. The strikes, which occurred overnight, resulted in the deaths of at least 12 people and raised alarms about potential nuclear safety risks across Europe, according to Ukrainian officials.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha characterized the attacks as intentional and warned that they pose a significant threat to nuclear safety. “These were not accidental but well-planned strikes. Russia is deliberately endangering nuclear safety in Europe,” Sybiha stated. He urged nations that prioritize nuclear safety, particularly China and India, to demand that Russia cease its reckless actions that could lead to a catastrophic incident.

In light of these developments, Sybiha called for an urgent meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to address the implications of the attacks on nuclear facilities. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly accused Russia of targeting the country’s nuclear power plants as part of a broader strategy to undermine Ukraine’s energy grid, especially as the harsh winter approaches.

The recent assault involved over 450 drones and 45 missiles, damaging energy facilities in the Kyiv, Poltava, and Kharkiv regions. Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko reported that these attacks have left thousands without power and water. Emergency crews have been deployed to stabilize the power grid, but Svitlana Hrynchuk, Ukraine’s Energy Minister, warned that power outages are necessary to manage the situation.

Consequences of the strikes have been severe. The state-owned Tsentrenergo energy company announced that it has halted operations at its plants in Kharkiv and Kyiv, with power output currently at zero. “The last strike was not even a month ago, and the enemy has now struck all our generating capacity at the same time. The stations are on fire!” the company expressed in a statement.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attacks, emphasizing the urgent need for international sanctions against Russian energy. He stated, “For every Moscow strike on energy infrastructure — aimed at harming ordinary people before winter — there must be a sanctions response targeting all Russian energy, with no exceptions.”

As the situation unfolds, the international community remains watchful of the ongoing conflict and the potential repercussions for nuclear safety in Europe.