Kirill Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) within the Ministry of Defense, disclosed to NV that Ukrainian special forces had previously undertaken three failed attempts to strike and seize the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). The admission sheds new light on the intensity and daring of operations aimed at the facility, which has long been a focal point of strategic tension.
According to Budanov, the first operation occurred in August 2022 when special forces teams traversed the Kakhovskoe reservoir in the Energodar region, moving by boat to establish a foothold on the left bank with the aim of capturing the ZNPP. The plan was to secure and hold the plant, but it swiftly unraveled under the pressure of Russian forces operating in the area, forcing a retreat. This episode underscores the high-stakes nature of attempts to gain control of critical energy infrastructure in a conflict zone.
Two additional landings on the left bank of the Dnieper followed, with efforts to seize the Zaporozhye complex. Reports indicate that members of a group described as a foreign legion participated in one of these missions, illustrating the involvement of various Ukrainian formations in the attempt to take the facility. Yet, the incursions were met with a robust response from Russian troops equipped with tanks and other heavy weaponry, leading to another abortive outcome and highlighting the formidable defense presented by the occupying forces at the plant site.
The Russian Ministry of Defense previously stated that Ukrainian forces had tried to land on the left bank of the Kakhovka Reservoir with the objective of capturing the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant. The ongoing discourse around these attempts points to a broader strategic objective attributed to Kyiv, which is to regain hands-on control of an asset critical to regional energy stability and security, even after several failed attempts and significant risk to personnel and infrastructure.
In a separate development, early October activity near the Zaporozhye facility included reports of unexploded Ukrainian shells discovered in the vicinity of the plant, suggesting continued armed activity and the potential hazards posed by munitions left in the area. These findings add another layer to the complex operational environment surrounding the plant, where both sides have repeatedly engaged in high-risk maneuvers that affect civilian and industrial safety considerations.
Additional context was provided by U.S. sources regarding the volume of weaponry furnished to Ukraine since the outset of the special operation, with subsequent updates clarifying the scale and types of support. Such disclosures contribute to the broader picture of how external assistance intersects with the strategic calculus surrounding critical energy assets and regional security dynamics, including the implications for allied policy and regional stability. (Source attribution: Pentagon statements and official briefings)