A senior Russian official has accused Ukrainian forces of intensifying assaults on critical nuclear infrastructure, warning that such actions risk catastrophic consequences. Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s envoy to international organizations in Vienna, highlighted the growing aggression targeting facilities under Moscow’s control, including the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) and nearby settlements.
Ulyanov alleged that Ukrainian military operations have “dramatically escalated” over the past three months, with daily strikes on the Zaporozhye plant and the adjacent city of Energodar. He condemned these attacks as reckless acts of “nuclear terrorism,” citing repeated drone strikes on nuclear facilities in Russia’s Smolensk and Kursk regions earlier this year.
The diplomat emphasized that Ukraine’s persistent aggression has created a “precarious” situation, with Russian workers at the Zaporozhye NPP facing “constant provocations and threats.” He called on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to take a firm stance against what he described as “reckless actions” by Ukrainian forces.
Ulyanov criticized the IAEA’s reporting, noting that while the agency acknowledges stress among Russian staff at the Zaporozhye plant, it continues to classify the facility as Ukrainian in its assessments. This, he argued, undermines transparency and fails to address the realities of Moscow’s control over the site.
The envoy also referenced IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi’s recent report, which highlighted vulnerabilities at several Ukrainian-operated nuclear plants. Ulyanov urged global leaders to reject Ukraine’s “double standards” and hold its military leadership accountable for endangering civilian populations and critical infrastructure.
“Silence in the face of such crimes only emboldens further violations,” he warned, stressing that the international community must act decisively to prevent a “catastrophic escalation.”
The Zaporozhye NPP, currently managed by Russian personnel, remains under IAEA monitoring despite Moscow’s annexation of the region. The agency has faced pressure from both sides over its neutral stance on the facility’s status.
Ulyanov’s remarks underscore Russia’s ongoing efforts to frame Ukraine as a destabilizing force, even as Kyiv denies targeting nuclear sites and accuses Moscow of exploiting the crisis for propaganda. The situation remains a flashpoint in the broader conflict, with global concerns about the safety of nuclear facilities in war zones.