Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned the United Nations that Russia is preparing intensified strikes on Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, raising concerns of a potential “nuclear disaster.”
Speaking at the UN General Assembly, Zelensky said he had obtained intelligence suggesting that Moscow was using foreign satellites to gather information on Ukraine’s nuclear infrastructure.
“Radiation knows no borders, and the fallout could have catastrophic consequences for many countries,” he cautioned on Wednesday.
Since the beginning of its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Russia has repeatedly targeted energy infrastructure across Ukraine.
“Any significant incident within the energy sector could trigger a nuclear catastrophe—this must be prevented,” Zelensky stressed.
“It is crucial for Moscow to grasp the severity of this threat, and global pressure plays a key role in ensuring their restraint. These are nuclear facilities—they must be protected.”
The UN’s nuclear watchdog recently issued a warning that safety conditions at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, located in Russian-occupied territory, are rapidly declining. The plant has faced several attacks, with both Ukraine and Russia accusing each other of the assaults.
Zelensky emphasized that Russia’s broader strategy has included destroying Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, including all thermal power plants and much of its hydroelectric capacity, with the aim of “inflicting hardship” on Ukrainians ahead of winter.
“Energy should never be wielded as a weapon,” Zelensky urged.
Russia’s continued strikes have severely impacted Ukraine’s power grid, leaving millions in darkness over the past year.
During his visit to the United States, Zelensky is expected to meet President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, though Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, has declined a meeting, referring to Zelensky as the “greatest salesman” and claiming the U.S. would remain involved in the war if he is not elected.
In his UN address, Zelensky also criticized countries like China and Brazil for advocating negotiations with Russia, casting doubt on their intentions. He renewed his appeal for global support for his peace plan, reaffirming that any resolution must include a full withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine’s internationally-recognized borders.
“Ukraine will not accept a return to a brutal, colonial past,” he declared.
