Russia Accuses Ukraine of Attacking Zaporozhskaya Nuclear Power Plant

Kathmandu. Russia has accused Ukraine of carrying out drone attacks on the Zaporozhskaya Nuclear Power Plant. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova claimed that Ukrainian forces targeted facilities at the Zaporozhskaya Nuclear Power Plant on May 30 and 31.

According to Zakharova, on May 30, the Ukrainian armed forces used an unmanned aerial vehicle to target the turbine hall of Unit 6 at the Zaporozhskaya Nuclear Power Plant. The following day, on May 31, the plant’s transport workshop was also attacked, she said.

She stated that casualties and serious damage to critical infrastructure at the nuclear facility were avoided only by chance. Zakharova alleged that such actions show the Ukrainian side is prepared to create risks to the safety and security of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant.

The Russian Foreign Ministry described Ukraine’s latest actions as highly dangerous and irresponsible. Zakharova warned that any activity targeting a nuclear facility could create not only regional but also global security risks.

She claimed that Kyiv and the American and European sides supporting it are fully aware of the grave consequences such actions could cause. Nevertheless, she said, the Ukrainian leadership has continued to disregard human lives and nuclear safety.

Zakharova also accused Western countries that continue to supply weapons to Ukraine of bearing responsibility for the situation. She said the use of supplied weapons to target nuclear facilities could become a danger even to Ukraine’s Western supporters themselves.

Russia called on the International Atomic Energy Agency, the IAEA, and its Director General Rafael Grossi to make a fair and clear assessment of Ukraine’s actions. Zakharova said that for the declared principles and commitments related to nuclear safety to remain meaningful, the IAEA leadership must address the incident clearly.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Russia will continue to do everything possible to maintain the safe operation of the Zaporozhskaya Nuclear Power Plant. The ministry stressed that the international community should take seriously any attack or act that creates risks to nuclear facilities.

The Zaporozhskaya Nuclear Power Plant is known as the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. Since the beginning of the Russia–Ukraine war, the facility has repeatedly remained at the center of security concerns.