FM Sybiha: Russian terror puts all of Europe at risk of nuclear incident

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha posted this on X, according to Ukrinform.

“Russia has recently intensified attacks on the Ukrainian nuclear energy system, creating a direct risk of a nuclear incident. There has been none so far – only thanks to the professionalism of Ukrainian nuclear energy professionals,” the post said.

Sybiha noted that recent Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure had led to a reduction in capacity at three operational Ukrainian nuclear power plants, occasionally triggering automatic safety shutdowns, reducing output, or shutting down units entirely. Each such event poses a direct threat.

Furthermore, the IAEA has recently documented numerous drone flyovers near the Rivne and Khmelnytskyi NPPs, which are classified as significant security threats, he added.

The Ukrainian Foreign Minister also highlighted that Russia had previously hit Chornobyl’s New Confinement with drones and, for the first time in human history, occupied a nuclear power plant – the Zaporizhzhia NPP – turning it into a military base. Russia continues to create risks to nuclear safety at Zaporizhzhia.

“Russian terrorists will continue to escalate these threats as long as the world does not stop them. Solutions are ready: sanctions against ‘Rosatom’, amendments to the IAEA Statute proposed by Ukraine, and enhanced air defense for the Ukrainian defenders to prevent Russia’s strikes against the nuclear energy system. The world must pay attention to Russia’s unacceptable and reckless behavior, putting hundreds of millions of Europeans at direct risk,” Sybiha stressed.

He also pointed out that the Rivne NPP is located only 135 kilometers from the EU and NATO borders.

“Every air defense system and interceptor provided to Ukraine now is a contribution to the nuclear safety of the entire European continent. We are informing our partners and all headquarters and urge action,” Sybiha concluded.

Previously, it was reported that on February 7, Russian forces attacked DTEK thermal power plants in various regions of Ukraine. This was the tenth large-scale attack on the company’s facilities since October 2025.