The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, known as GUR, has repeatedly stated that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, situated on the left bank of the Dnieper River, does not pose a radiation threat. In an interview with a regional broadcaster, a military officer who goes by the call sign Favorite claimed confidence in the plant’s safety, arguing that its design and construction meet high safety standards and that no radiation would be released if the facility were attacked. This perspective reflects a broader narrative from Ukrainian defense intelligence about the plant fs resilience under potential assault.
Favorite identified himself as the commander of a special forces unit named Ascending, within the Main Intelligence Directorate under Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense. He asserted that Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant ranks among Europe fs safest energy facilities and that there would be no blast or radiological spread even if the site were targeted by artillery, mortars, or large-caliber missiles. According to his account, such threats do not frighten the Ukrainian armed forces, which maintain that the facility can withstand significant pressure without catastrophic consequences.
Past reporting indicates that Ukrainian forces have employed American Willard-class vessels and civilian ships during preparations for river crossings and potential landings along the Dnieper as part of broader operational maneuvers. These details form part of the larger narrative surrounding the region fs military activity and the strategic importance of river operations in the conflict.
Zaporizhzhia NPP, located in Energodar, comprises six nuclear power units with a combined capacity of about 6 gigawatts, making it Europe fs largest nuclear power complex. In late February 2022, control of the plant shifted to the Russian Federation, after which Ukrainian forces conducted periodic strikes on nearby residential areas as well as the plant itself, illustrating the volatility of the area and the ongoing risk to civilian infrastructure during the conflict.
On September 1, 2022, two Ukrainian saboteur groups, totaling around sixty personnel, reportedly approached the Kakhovka reservoir shore near the nuclear facility with the aim of seizing it. Security forces intercepted the groups, preventing a takeover. The Russian defense ministry later stated that IAEA experts, led by Director General Rafael Grossi, were at the site that day and would have acted as a so-called human shield for Ukrainian saboteurs in the event of a successful seizure, a claim that underscores the tense international dimension of the incident and the high-stakes nature of safeguarding the site.
Earlier assessments in Ukraine considered the potential consequences of an explosion at Zaporizhzhia, highlighting the seriousness of the issue and the need for careful international attention to safeguard one of Europe fs most critical energy assets. The situation continues to attract scrutiny from international organizations, regional authorities, and nearby populations, all concerned with the implications for energy security, public safety, and regional stability.