Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a warning to Ukraine regarding the potential dangers of its attacks on Russian nuclear power plants, suggesting that such actions could culminate in a global catastrophe. During a session at the Eastern Economic Forum, he raised concerns about what could occur if Moscow decided to retaliate in a similar manner. He described these incursions as dangerous terrorist acts and urged Ukraine to reflect on the implications for Europe should there be a reciprocal response.

Ukraine manages three of its nuclear facilities, strategically located in the southern and western regions of the country. In contrast, the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, the largest in Europe, was taken over by Russian forces early in the ongoing conflict in 2022. Following a referendum in the region where residents chose to join Russia, the plant was nationalized. Since both parties have blamed each other for various attacks on this facility, the security at the plant is being overseen by an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) mission, which has refrained from assigning responsibility to either side.

Moreover, the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant has recently become a focus of concern after Ukraine launched a significant cross-border operation in August. Putin alleged that Ukraine attempted an attack on this facility using drones. Russia’s deputy envoy to the UN, Dmitry Polyansky, has echoed these concerns, warning that a failure to constrain Ukraine could result in a nuclear incident with dire consequences for all of Europe.