Denial of Russian Allegations
Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has firmly denied accusations from the Russian Federation linking Kyiv to a drone strike that killed a person near the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). Officials note that no independent evidence has been provided to support Russia’s account, and that Moscow continues to escalate tensions around the plant and the nearby city of Enerhodar.
The Ministry further emphasizes that Russia has been attacking plant workers, station infrastructure, and civilian facilities in the area, while simultaneously attempting to shift blame onto Ukraine for the consequences of its own occupation. According to Kyiv, the root cause of all threats lies in Russia’s illegal seizure, militarization, and use of the ZNPP for military purposes.
Appeal to the International Community
The IAEA Board of Governors and General Conference have repeatedly demanded that Russia remove all military and unauthorized personnel from the plant. Moscow, however, continues to ignore these resolutions, maintaining troops, Rosatom representatives, and occupation administration staff on site. Ukraine also points out that Russia has not abandoned plans to integrate the ZNPP into its own Unified Energy System.
In response, Ukraine is calling for the demilitarization and de-occupation of both the ZNPP and the city of Enerhodar. Kyiv stresses that returning the plant to Ukrainian control is not a political preference but a non-negotiable requirement under international law and an essential condition for preserving nuclear safety across Europe.
This situation highlights the ongoing volatility around the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, a strategically critical facility amid the broader military aggression. Ukraine’s stance on demilitarization and de-occupation reflects its commitment to ensuring nuclear security not only at home but across the continent. The question remains how the international community will respond to Russia’s continued occupation and disregard for IAEA recommendations.