Ukraine urges IAEA and countries to stop Russia’s planned strikes on nuclear plant substations
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has urged the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and leading global powers to compel Russia to abandon its plans to strike substations supplying Ukraine’s nuclear power plants.
The Zaporizhzhia power plant has six reactors and was once capable of powering 4m homesThe Minister stated on X, citing Ukrainian intelligence, that the aggressor state is planning dangerous strikes on substations that provide electricity to Ukrainian nuclear power plants.
“Moscow knows no limits in its genocidal goal of depriving Ukrainians of power amid freezing winter,” Sybiha tweeted.
Ukraine is sharing relevant intelligence with its partners and warning of potentially catastrophic repercussions, Sybiha reported.
“It is high time for the world, including the IAEA and major global powers that value nuclear safety, to speak up and issue clear warnings to Moscow and force it to abandon such reckless plans,” Sybiha called on.
To provide background, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (DIU) stated on January 17, 2026, that Russia is considering attacks on substations linked to Ukraine’s nuclear power plants in a bid to force Ukraine to agree to unacceptable demands.
The DIU elaborated that in order to force Ukraine to sign unacceptable capitulation demands to end the war, Moscow is considering striking strategic facilities in our country’s energy system – the electricity transmission substations that ensure the operation of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants.
“[…] By destroying or disabling these substations, Moscow seeks to disconnect nuclear power plant units from Ukraine’s integrated power system so that Ukrainian civilians are left entirely without electricity and heating,” the statement reads.
DIU reported that, as of mid-January 2026, Russia has conducted reconnaissance of 10 critical energy infrastructure facilities in 9 Ukrainian oblasts.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has highlighted in his X post that every Russian strike on Ukraine’s energy sector in the harsh winter conditions weakens and undermines the efforts of key allies, particularly the United States, to end the war.
“Ukraine is being as constructive as possible in diplomacy, while Russia is focused only on strikes and on tormenting people. Partners must draw the proper conclusions from this. We will provide the available information to those in the world whose influence matters and can help,” the President of Ukraine stated.
You may also want to read: How Russian missile strikes crippled Ukraine’s healthcare system – report by Physicians for Human Rights and Truth Hounds
Zelenskyy has also explained that yesterday, electricity consumption in Ukraine was 18 GW, while the system’s capacity was only 11 GW.
Stay connected with us via X and LinkedIn — and while you’re here, please spare five minutes to fill out our survey and tell us what you’d like to see next.
