Zelenskyy accuses Russia of planning attacks on nuclear facilities

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday accused Russia of planning attacks on nuclear energy facilities in the country.

“Recently I received yet another alarming report from our intelligence. Now (Russian President Vladimir) Putin seems to be planning attacks on our nuclear power plants and their infrastructure, aiming to disconnect the plants from the power grid,” Zelenskyy said addressing the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Zelenskyy further accused Russia of using satellites from other countries to collect detailed information, saying that any drone or missile strike on Ukraine’s energy system could lead to a “nuclear disaster.”

“A day like that must never come. Moscow needs to understand this and this depends, in part, on your determination to put pressure on the aggressor (Russia),” Zelenskyy told the General Assembly.

"These are nuclear power plants. They must be safe," he added.

On Tuesday, Zelenskyy claimed during a UN Security Council address that Russia is preparing to target three of its nuclear power plants.

On the same day, Zelenskyy also accused Moscow of using Chinese satellites to photograph Ukraine’s nuclear energy facilities.

Neither Russian nor Chinese authorities have yet commented on Zelenskyy’s claims.​​​​​​​