Ukraine's Attacks on Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Could Impact Europe, Warns Rosatom

Russia's state nuclear energy corporation, Rosatom, has issued a stark warning regarding the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), stating that any incident could have severe consequences for Ukraine and neighboring European Union nations. Rosatom Director General Aleksey Likhachev asserted that explosions or fires at the facility could disrupt power and water supplies to reactor units, signaling an initial nuclear incident.

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Any explosion or fire guarantees the loss of electricity and water supply to the reactor unit. That is the first sign of a nuclear incident.

The ZNPP, Europe's largest nuclear facility, has been under Russian control since March 2022 and has been the site of numerous attacks. A recent incident involved a drone hitting the machine room of Unit 6, causing damage. Rosatom described this as a deliberate attack on essential equipment, a claim that Ukraine denies. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has maintained that the only way to guarantee the plant's safety is for it to be returned to Ukrainian control.

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Ukraine and its neighboring EU countries will be the first to face serious risks if that happens.

Likhachev elaborated that if the plant were targeted with more powerful weaponry, such as heavy missiles, the reactor containment vessel could be compromised, potentially leading to a widespread release of radiation. He emphasized that such an event would pose serious risks primarily to Ukraine and its neighboring EU countries. He also noted that radiation does not respect borders, implying that European leaders are endangering their own populations by allowing tensions around the plant to escalate.

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By allowing tensions to escalate around the Zaporizhzhia NPP, the leaders of European countries are putting their own people, cities, and territories under direct threat.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has experts stationed at the plant, has confirmed attacks on the facility but has not assigned responsibility. The ZNPP is currently operated by Rosatom following the annexation of Ukrainian regions by Russia in 2022, a move not recognized by Ukraine or most Western countries. The ongoing situation at the plant remains a significant point of international concern.

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The only way to guarantee the safety of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is to return it to Kyiv's control.