Ukraine Warns of Imminent Russian Strikes on Nuclear Facilities, Calls for Global Action

Ukrainian officials have issued a stark warning, claiming that Russia is planning attacks on critical nuclear energy infrastructure in Ukraine before winter. They are urging global authorities and allies to act immediately to prevent what they describe as an imminent threat.

The alarming statement came from Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, who cited intelligence reports.

“According to Ukrainian intelligence, Kremlin is preparing strikes on Ukrainian nuclear energy critical objects ahead of winter,” Sybiha wrote on his X account (formerly Twitter) on Saturday. “In particular, it concerns open distribution devices at NPPs & transmission substations, critical for the safe operation of nuclear energy.”

Following Sybiha’s remarks, Andriy Yermak, Chief of Staff to President Volodymyr Zelensky, called for an urgent global response. In a Telegram post, Yermak warned that this threat could lead to a nuclear catastrophe, stressing the gravity of the situation.

“Russia is a terrorist,” he wrote, urging the West and countries of the Global South to react swiftly and strongly to the threat. 

Ukraine has previously accused Russia of nuclear blackmail after Russian forces seized the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant — Europe’s largest — in March 2022, shortly after the invasion began. Moscow denies these allegations.

In a related development, President Zelensky spoke about the constraints Ukraine faces in its military operations. During a briefing on Friday, he revealed that both the United States and the United Kingdom have prohibited Ukraine from using Western-supplied long-range missiles on targets within Russia, fearing such actions could escalate the conflict.

“Neither America nor the United Kingdom gave us permission to use these weapons on the territory of Russia,” Zelensky said.

He explained that Ukraine has been requesting permission for weeks, believing these strikes could shift the balance in the war, now two and a half years in. However, concerns over sparking a broader conflict involving NATO have left allies hesitant.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously warned that any Ukrainian strikes on Russian soil with Western weapons would be viewed as an act of war by NATO, further elevating tensions.

Despite these challenges, Ukraine continues to receive critical military aid from its allies. President Zelensky noted that the pace of support has accelerated in recent weeks. “We are glad. We can feel the difference,” he said, acknowledging earlier delays due to political disagreements among Western partners. This support remains vital as Ukraine’s forces work to repel Russian advances in the eastern regions.