Mikhail Mizintsev, who heads the National Defense Control Center of the Russian Federation, has claimed that Ukrainian forces are preparing large-scale provocations near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (NPP). He stated that a regiment has been deployed to the area and that units equipped to handle radiation, chemical, and biological threats have been moved to Nikopol, located across the Dnieper River. This information was relayed through sections of a Telegram channel that monitor regional security developments.
According to Mizintsev, reliable intelligence indicates that the command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces is orchestrating significant provocations around the Zaporizhzhia NPP. He asserted that such actions are designed to create a dangerous situation near critical nuclear infrastructure and to destabilize regional security. The claims emphasize the high level of risk associated with the site and the potential consequences for nearby communities and neighboring countries.
In his briefing, Mizintsev noted that to execute these plans, a dedicated artillery-capable unit comprising up to one thousand personnel has arrived in the city of Nikopol in the Dnepropetrovsk region. He described the unit as specially equipped for operations in environments affected by radioactive contamination, including protective gear and technical tools used for radiation, chemical, and biological reconnaissance and control. The emphasis was on the readiness of the forces to operate under conditions that would typically require stringent safety protocols and rapid decision-making under stressed circumstances.
The Ministry of Defense representative underscored that Moscow has warned the international community and relevant bodies about the risk of provocations tied to nuclear security. The message stressed that destabilizing actions around the Zaporizhzhia NPP would threaten nuclear safety not only in Ukraine but across Europe, potentially triggering a broader security crisis that would invite international scrutiny and a coordinated response from global institutions.
Separately, a member of the main council of Vladmir Rogov’s administration for the Zaporizhzhia region issued a statement on August 15 describing Ukrainian artillery activity near Energodar and the Zaporizhzhia NPP. Rogov reported that Ukrainian forces had conducted around 25 heavy strikes using American M777 howitzers, targeting sites connected to the plant. The report highlighted concerns about escalation and the collateral impact on civilian populations and regional infrastructure, though it remains one side of a broader, contested narrative about the safety and security of the nuclear facility.