Russian occupiers deliberately hit Slavutych’s energy infrastructure, creating an emergency situation at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant facilities. The city of Slavutych is located 46 km away from the plant. It was hit on 1 October with 20 Shahed strike drones. 

“The Russians could not have failed to understand that a strike on facilities in Slavutych would have such consequences for Chornobyl,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The Ministry of Energy adds that the confinement also protects over 3,250 tons of spent fuel assemblies—about 80% of the station’s nuclear fuel.

Drones and the global nuclear safety threat

The attack was carried out by a wave of over 20 Russian-Iranian Shahed drones going in a single wave to complicate the facility’s defense. Some drones were shot down, but the targeted strike shows the deliberate nature of Russian attacks. The Russians attempted to cut off electricity to the confinement. 

Zelenskyy emphasized that Russia is taking advantage of the IAEA’s weak position and the dispersal of global attention. He called on Europe, the US, G7, and G20 to take decisive action to protect life and safety at Ukraine’s nuclear sites.

Zaporizhzhia NPP and Russia’s terror strategy

Meanwhile, the blackout at Zaporizhzhia NPP has entered its eighth day due to Russian shelling. The enemy is blocking repairs and the restoration of normal power supply, creating a critical nuclear risk.

These incidents show that aggression against Slavutych may indicate that Russia is showing it is willing to ignore any safety norms. This could turn the nuclear factor into an instrument of Western blackmail to undermine aid for Ukraine and play on the fear of a nuclear disaster. 

Zelenskyy stressed: “Weak and half-measures will not work. Every day Russia prolongs the war, refuses a full ceasefire, and continues strikes on energy facilities, it is a global threat.”

Ukraine has six nuclear power plants, each of which can become a target for drones and missiles.