Kyiv (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Ukraine condemned Russia’s attack on nuclear plants as “nuclear terrorism,” while the IAEA reported damage affecting several reactors’ safety.
As reported by the LBC, Kyiv labels Russia’s strikes on nuclear power plants as “nuclear terrorism,” warning that disruptions risk reactor safety.
The Zaporizhzhia plant, under Russian control, has faced intermittent power outages after its external lines were damaged. It does not produce electricity but still requires power to safely manage its nuclear fuel.
What did Ukraine say about Russia targeting nuclear plant power lines?
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry slammed Russian strikes on energy substations supplying power to several of its nuclear plants. It claimed Russia carried out targeted attacks on facilities critical to nuclear safety.
The statement added,
“Deliberate strikes on civilian energy facilities that directly affect the safe operation of nuclear installations bear the hallmarks of nuclear terrorism and constitute a grave violation of international humanitarian law.”
What did the IAEA report about damage to Ukraine’s nuclear power substations?
The International Atomic Energy Agency condemned the strikes, confirming during a field visit that they compromised Ukraine’s nuclear facilities and safety.
Its director general, Rafael Mariano Grossi, added,
“Attacks on Ukraine’s power grid represent an ever-present danger to nuclear safety and security to all nuclear facilities in Ukraine.”
According to the IAEA, military activity near South Ukraine and Khmelnitskyi plants caused both to lose access to an external power line.
How has the G7 responded to Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure?
G7 energy ministers have condemned Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
In a joint statement, the ministers slammed Russia’s strikes, describing them as ‘nuclear terrorism.
According to officials from the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the US, Russian attacks on Ukraine’s nuclear substations are causing severe social, environmental, and economic damage.
The statement added,
“Russia’s recent attacks on Ukraine’s natural gas infrastructure have created risks to communities and human lives, weakening civilian infrastructure and the energy security of the Ukrainian people.”
What did Volodymyr Zelensky say about Ukrainian spies destroying a Russian missile?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine’s agents destroyed a Russian missile inside Russia last summer.
He said Ukrainian agents destroyed a nuclear-capable missile at Kapustin Yar, one of Russia’s key weapons testing sites.
According to Mr Zelensky, Russia has the capacity to produce six such missiles per year and aims to deploy them in Belarus.
He added,
“We can say briefly and concisely that one of the three Oreshniks was successfully destroyed on their (Russian) territory at Kapustin Yar.”
Referring to abducted children, the Ukrainian president said officials have compiled a list of 339 taken by Russia and those responsible for their deportation.
He stated,
“The Foreign Intelligence Service has a list of 339 children. Beyond locating them, I’ve asked our intelligence to provide data that is indisputable for the Russians.”
Mr Zelensky added,
“Within a week or two, we’ll have a document listing all 339 children – with addresses, names, and the institutions that took them and tried to erase their identities.”
How is Russia using 9M729 Novator missiles in Ukraine?
A new inquiry shows Russia has used nuclear-capable 9M729 Novator missiles against Ukraine, in apparent violation of international law.
Under the INF treaty, ground-launched missiles with ranges of 500 to 5,500 kilometres are banned.
An investigation revealed that Russia launched Novator missiles at a Ukrainian target over 1,200 kilometres away.
According to reports, Russia has repeatedly used the missile against Ukraine, with two strikes in 2022 and nearly two dozen attacks since August 2025.
When did the Ukraine-Russia war start, and how many have died in Ukraine?
The war started with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. This was a major escalation of a conflict that started with Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014
In the eight years of conflict in the Donbas region before the 2022 invasion, the United Nations recorded approximately 14,200–14,400 deaths from April 2014 to December 2021. This figure includes Ukrainian and pro-Russian fighters, as well as civilians
A mid-2025 study from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimated Ukrainian military deaths at between 60,000 and 100,000, with total casualties nearly 400,000.
