On August 11, 2024, Russia carried out yet another dangerous provocation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), once again demonstrating its unwillingness to adhere to international norms and regulations. Around 8:00 PM, a fire broke out at the plant’s technical water supply facility, igniting cooling tower number one and damaging other critical equipment. This is another alarming signal, indicating the real threat of a radiological disaster that continues to loom over all of Europe.
The damaged cooling tower is located just one kilometer from the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant’s reactor units, and any similar incident could have catastrophic consequences. Despite all efforts by the Russian authorities to conceal their actions, the truth is clear: Russia forcibly seized the plant, and all threats at the ZNPP are exclusively created by the Russian side. Large-scale fires could lead to developments that may escalate into a radiological accident, posing a threat not only to Ukraine but to all of Europe, which has already endured the horrors of Chernobyl in the past.
The Russian authorities continue to exploit global fears, using the “nuclear card” as a tool for blackmail. They disguise their aggressive actions by shifting the blame onto Ukraine, but the full responsibility for destabilizing safety at the ZNPP lies solely with Moscow. The Kremlin’s military activities at the nuclear power plant are a blatant violation of international law and a direct threat to global security.
The seizure of the ZNPP was just the beginning of the Kremlin’s criminal actions. The Russians have turned the plant’s premises and facilities into military depots, storing equipment, weapons, and explosives. The turbine halls have been converted into military bases, and the cooling towers now serve as storage sites for military equipment. These actions significantly increase the risk of fires in the plant’s industrial areas, which, in turn, could cause irreparable damage.
Provocations at the ZNPP are undoubtedly necessary for Moscow to divert attention from its internal problems, particularly in Russia’s border regions, such as the Kursk region. The Kremlin is attempting to manipulate global public opinion by focusing on terrorism to distract from its criminal actions on Ukrainian territory.
Russia’s use of the ZNPP as a military base is unacceptable. This endangers not only Ukraine but the entire world. Only the plant’s liberation and return to the control of Energoatom—the sole legitimate operator—can ensure the reliable and safe operation of the station and prevent a nuclear disaster. The international community must understand that Moscow is deliberately blackmailing the world, disregarding safety at the ZNPP.
Russia must be held accountable for its crimes. Only the return of the plant to Ukrainian control can restore normalcy and ensure fullsafety. As long as Russian forces continue to occupy the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the situation cannot be stabilized. Ukraine demands that Russia be held responsible for the crimes committed at the ZNPP and calls for the development of an effective mechanism to bring the plant back under Ukrainian control.
Ukraine awaits the reaction of the world and the IAEA. The international community must take decisive action to end Russia’s blackmail at the ZNPP and ensure nuclear safety in Europe. Only through international pressure and active measures can Moscow be stopped, and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant be returned to Ukraine’s legitimate authorities.
