Russia threatens Ukraine nuclear power plants, ZNPP attack imminent
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According to a source familiar with the matter, Russia is preparing to target the power lines of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, in a move that could occur within a few days.
Ukrainian officials had said Moscow’s plan focused on high-voltage transmission infrastructure rather than direct attacks on nuclear reactors, but a source has since claimed that Moscow’s focus was on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant lines (ZNPP).
Inside a statement Announced on January 17, the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (HUR) warned that Russia is considering attacks on substations critical for nuclear energy production.
“The aggressor state Russia is considering the option of attacking strategic facilities of our state’s energy system in order to force Ukraine to sign unacceptable surrender demands to end the war; we are talking about electricity transmission substations that ensure the operation of Ukrainian nuclear power plants.”
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Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant has been under Russian occupation since March 2022. (Ed Ram/Washington Post via Getty Images)
“The threat is ZNPP,” a source told Fox News Digital. The source, who said on condition of anonymity, said, “There is talk of a major attack tonight or in the coming nights,” and added, “The discussions within the Ukrainian government are about ZNPP and the lines, and these talks are not for the first time.”
Accordingly Associated PressRussia also targeted energy infrastructure in the Odesa region on Sunday night, according to the Ukrainian Emergency Service.
ZNPP is located in southern Ukraine and consists of six VVER-1000 pressurized water reactors and has been under Russian occupation since March 2022. According to reports.
Even though the reactors are no longer producing electricity, the facility still needs external power to maintain its cooling and safety systems.
The IAEA has repeatedly warned that disruptions to off-site power supplies and lines pose a serious nuclear security risk.
A local ceasefire agreement was signed between Russia and Ukraine on January 16 for the repair of an already damaged backup power line in the ZNPP under the coordination of the IAEA.
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said in a statement on January 16: “The IAEA continues to work closely with both parties in the ZNPP to ensure nuclear security and prevent a nuclear accident during the conflict. The fourth interim ceasefire we have negotiated demonstrates the indispensable role we continue to play.”
“The disruption of Ukraine’s power grid due to continuous military activities has direct impacts on the nuclear safety of its nuclear facilities,” Grossi said. he said.
The source regarding the ZNPP operation said, “It is said that Russia will carry out this attack, perhaps even tonight.”
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Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly eyeing the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant pipeline, according to a source. (Ramil Sitdikov/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
“Information coming from the Ukrainian Parliament and the Ukrainian Security Service or from insiders is that the Russian army told the Ukrainian army that if they do not stop bombing their tankers at sea or oil refineries and power stations such as power plants, they will also completely destroy Kiev energy facilities,” the source said. he said.
“Parliament knows this. But we continue the bombardment,” the source added.
“This is a very difficult situation,” the source continued, saying that the Ukrainian leadership, the Ukrainian parliament and “frankly the presidency” are fully aware that “if we continue to bomb Russian tankers and oil refineries, they will destroy everything we have.”
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also recently called on NATO allies to urgently send additional air defense missiles and warned that some systems were running low on ammunition. to reports.
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“It’s really about preserving the energy in the country when it’s minus 20 outside and people are literally suffering tremendously,” the source added. “People have no electricity, no heat, and some don’t even have water.”
“And this is a very controversial situation,” the source said, “especially for the Ukrainians who are sitting inside, hungry and freezing, and in general in this disastrous humanitarian situation.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to President Zelenskyy’s office for comment.
