The Ukrainian military did not strike at power unit No. 6 of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant and act exclusively within the framework of international humanitarian law, realizing the consequences of any actions against nuclear facilities. The Defense Forces of southern Ukraine announced this on May 30 in Telegram.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces' message appeared in response to accusations from the aggressor country, Russia. Propagandists from the Russian TASS agency earlier in the day published a commentary by the General Director of the Russian Rosatom, Alexey Likhachev, about a Ukrainian drone that allegedly exploded near the turbine hall of block No. 6 of the Zaporizhia NPP. Likhachev claimed that the drone was on the optical fiber and that it was allegedly a targeted attack on the facility.
The Ukrainian military denied the statements of the occupiers, noting that the Russian Federation continues to use the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant as a tool of nuclear blackmail and information provocations, and messages disseminated by occupation resources about an alleged strike by the Ukrainian Defense Forces on Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant facilities are another attempt to discredit Ukraine and hide its own criminal actions.
The Southern Defense Forces noted that it is the Russian Federation that has been illegally keeping the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant under military control since March 2022, turning a civilian nuclear facility into an element of military infrastructure.
“The enemy violates the requirements for the deployment of fire weapons within a five-kilometer zone, deploys electronic warfare equipment, weapons, military equipment and personnel on the territory of the plant. Systematic manipulations around nuclear security issues are components of the policy of nuclear terrorism that Russia is pursuing against Ukraine and the international community. Statements by the Russian side about an alleged strike by the Ukrainian Defense Forces on the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant are another information provocation of the aggressor state, because this is not the first such statement Moscow. The scheme has been worked out: after the next losses at the front, a loud accusation appears against Ukraine, designed to divert the attention of the international audience, the Russian side traditionally does not provide any evidence – and this time was no exception,” the message says.
The military drew attention to the fact that the Zaporizhia NPP is located approximately 50 km from the land section of the combat line. The nearest city in Ukrainian-controlled territory (Nikopol) is located on the other side of the former Kakhovka reservoir, at least 10 km from the station.
“The aggressor deliberately does not demonstrate high-quality photos and video footage of the supposed consequences of the strike. In addition, the Armed Forces of Ukraine do not have drones with fiber optic control that have such a long range of action, as well as drones with a cumulative warhead weighing 5-6 kg, because this is exactly what is needed to punch such a hole that the Russian side is talking about. In addition, the occupation forces themselves have put up multi-level smoke protection around the Zaporizhia NPP – fly through The device physically could not pass through it unnoticed. The version promoted by Russia does not stand up to any verification of facts. The Ukrainian Armed Forces operate within the framework of international humanitarian law. Article 56 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions directly prohibits strikes on nuclear facilities. The Armed Forces of Ukraine did not conduct any active combat operations in the relevant sector of the front during the incident, and no means of destruction were used,” the Armed Forces of Ukraine emphasized.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also “strongly rejected” the occupiers’ accusations.
“Russian accusations, as always, lack logic: it is not clear for what purpose Ukraine should have struck at its own nuclear power plant, located on its territory, which it itself seeks to return under its sovereign control. Russian propaganda is trying again and again to promote an absurd construction: a state defending its territory allegedly attacks its own nuclear facilities, and the state that occupied them acts as their “defender.” The very fact of the need to repeat this thesis already indicates its insolvency,” the department noted and recalled that the Russian Federation refuses to provide full and unimpeded access for international experts to all areas of the Zaporozhye NPP.
