Why is Zelenskyy warning that Russian strikes risk nuclear disaster?

Zelenskyy warns of nuclear threat

A Russian drone strike on Oct. 1 knocked out power to the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant for several hours, raising alarms about the safety of one of the world’s most sensitive nuclear sites. The attack, which hit an energy facility in the nearby town of Slavutych, cut electricity to the New Safe Confinement structure that contains the remains of Chornobyl’s destroyed fourth reactor.

Ukraine’s Energy Ministry described an “emergency situation” but confirmed later that power was restored and radiation levels remained normal. Still, the incident highlighted the risks of targeting energy and nuclear infrastructure in wartime.

Zelenskyy’s warning on nuclear safety

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of deliberately endangering global security by striking facilities it knew would affect Chornobyl. He said the attack used “more than 20 drones” in a wave formation to overwhelm defenses.

Posting on X, Zelenskyy warned: “Half-hearted or weak measures will not fix the situation. Every day that Russia prolongs the war, refuses to implement a full and reliable ceasefire, and continues striking all objects of our energy infrastructure – including those critical to the safety of nuclear power plants and other nuclear facilities – is a global threat.”

Today, a Russian strike on one of our energy substations in Slavutych caused a blackout lasting more than three hours at the former Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant facilities. This included the New Safe Confinement, which protects the environment from remnants of reactor 4 after…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 1, 2025

He stressed that the blackout extended to storage facilities holding 80% of Ukraine’s spent nuclear fuel, some 3,250 tons, further underlining the dangers.

Broader context: Zaporizhzhia and global risks

The Chornobyl blackout came just days after the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant — Europe’s largest — suffered its longest recorded power outage, relying on diesel generators for over 100 hours. Zelenskyy described the situation as “critical,” noting one generator had already failed.

He also criticised the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for what he called a “weak stance,” arguing that global inaction emboldens Moscow. With Ukraine operating five other nuclear power plants, he said every site is a potential target.

Why it matters

Zelenskyy’s warning frames nuclear safety as an international issue rather than a regional concern. By stressing the risk of radiological incidents, he is pressing the United States, Europe, and the G7 and G20 to adopt stronger measures against Russia, portraying nuclear security as a shared global responsibility.