The Russian Ministry of Defense has publicly confirmed reports of three artillery strikes attributed to Ukrainian military personnel targeting the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (NPP) and the nearby city of Energodar. The agency specifies that a total of 20 rounds of 152 mm ammunition were fired onto the site, with the strikes launched from a single unit. According to the ministry, the firing positions were located near the village of Marganets, on the opposite bank of the Kremenchug reservoir, a region that is described as being under the control of Ukrainian forces from their vantage point on that shore.
The ministry detailed the consequences of the bombardment, noting interruptions to electricity and water supply in Energodar, and reporting that certain critical systems at the Zaporizhzhia NPP were affected. Specifically, it is claimed that some equipment at power unit number 3 was de-energized and that the output of power unit number 4 was reduced. In addition, the report states that a hydrogen pipeline sustained damage, leading to a hydrogen flash fire at the site, which was promptly extinguished by medical responders. The account emphasizes that the fire was contained swiftly and without further injury, attributing the incident to the damage sustained by the gas-related infrastructure within the plant complex.
The ministry issued a call to international organizations to condemn what it labeled as criminal acts by the administration of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. In its statement, the ministry described the alleged provocation as particularly cynical because it purportedly occurred in New York, under the auspices of the United Nations, during a conference addressing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and related discussions about nuclear weapons. The ministry urged observers to treat the incident as part of broader regional tensions and to assess responsibility accordingly.
In its briefing, the ministry asserted that if further provocations were to disrupt operations at the Zaporizhzhia NPP, accountability would lie squarely with the Kyiv regime. The wording signals a clear attribution of fault, highlighting alleged patterns of disruption to essential infrastructure tied to the plant. The report also notes that, prior to the latest strikes, Ukrainian Armed Forces actions had already led to the severing of two transmission lines that are deemed necessary for the normal functioning of the plant’s power units. The sequence of events, as described by the ministry, portrays a chain of damage arising from hostilities that officials argue threaten regional energy stability.
Observers and international experts continue to monitor developments surrounding the Zaporizhzhia NPP, a facility with a long history of geopolitical sensitivity. Analysts emphasize the importance of ensuring continuous operational safety at the site, given the potential implications for regional energy security and environmental protection. While the Ministry of Defense presents its account as a factual briefing, independent verification remains a core objective for observers seeking to establish a comprehensive, unbiased understanding of the events and their broader consequences for nuclear safety governance and international diplomacy.