Russia Endangers Europe by Using Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant as Military Shield
Ukraine has issued a stark warning over the growing risk of a nuclear catastrophe, condemning Russia’s continued militarization of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), the largest in Europe.
The Gaze reports this, referring to a statement made by Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).
The MFA denounced recent shelling near the facility by Russian forces, confirmed by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi.
According to Grossi, Russian troops launched multiple artillery salvos targeting the area around the spent nuclear fuel storage site. The shelling reportedly continued for over an hour, raising alarm about the plant’s already fragile safety conditions.
The MFA described Russia’s actions as a calculated attempt to weaponize the nuclear facility while shielding itself from counterattacks. “The Russian Federation’s actions jeopardize not only Ukraine's security but also risk a continental-scale nuclear disaster,” the MFA said.
The Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry emphasized that repeated damage to external power lines has left the facility reliant on a single backup line, severely compromising operational safety. “Any incident at Zaporizhzhia brings us closer to the brink of disaster,” the ministry warned.
Ukraine is now calling on the international community to take urgent steps to demilitarize the facility and return it to the authority of Energoatom, Ukraine’s national nuclear operator.
MFA also reiterated its demand for greater international pressure on Moscow and increased support for Ukraine’s defense. “Russia’s use of a nuclear facility for military operations constitutes nuclear terrorism and a violation of international law,” the MFA stated.
Kyiv also thanked the IAEA for its continued monitoring of the plant, noting that independent verification remains vital for exposing the scale of risks posed by Russia. With fears mounting over the safety of Europe’s largest nuclear site, Ukrainian officials insist that the time for global action is now.
Read more on The Gaze: Russia Doesn’t Stop its Nuclear Blackmail: What Challenges Does this Pose for the World?