Medvedev threatened to strike nuclear power plants in Ukraine and NATO countries
On May 30, Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council, stated that in the event of a “catastrophic destruction” of the machine room or reactor building at a nuclear power plant, Russia could launch a “symmetrical strike” against Ukrainian nuclear power plants, as well as against nuclear power plants in NATO countries.
The statement was prompted by accusations made by Rosatom Director General Alexei Likhachev against Ukraine on May 30. According to him, a Ukrainian fiber-optic-controlled drone struck the roof of the machine hall of the sixth power unit at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, creating a hole in it. The equipment at the plant, which has been occupied by Russian troops, was reportedly not damaged. Likhachev described this as “the first targeted attack in world history on the main equipment of a nuclear power plant” and stated that the Ukrainian Armed Forces could be expected to launch strikes “directly at the nuclear reactor and safety systems.”
Medvedev picked up on this argument and elaborated on it in his characteristic manner: “In the event of catastrophic destruction of the machine hall or reactor hall of a nuclear power plant, a new Chernobyl will occur. And this is no better than the use of tactical nuclear weapons. And the response to such actions could be a symmetrical strike on Ukrainian nuclear power plants, as well as on nuclear power plants in NATO countries involved in the conflict,” he wrote on his MAX channel.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine stated that they did not shell the Zaporizhzhia NPP. The Southern Defense Forces called the accusations “yet another information provocation” and reminded that Article 56 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions explicitly prohibits strikes on nuclear facilities—and the Armed Forces of Ukraine adhere to it.
The military also noted that there were no active combat operations taking place in that sector of the front at the time of the incident. Furthermore, the Ukrainian Armed Forces do not possess fiber-optic-controlled drones with the range required for such an attack, nor do they have drones equipped with a 5–6 kg cumulative warhead, which would be necessary to achieve such an effect. Russia has yet to provide high-quality photos or videos allegedly showing the aftermath of the strike.
Earlier, Medvedev stated that Russia must ensure its own security due to “Europe’s fear,” threatening the continent with a “great bloodbath.”
He also snubbed Trump following a controversial statement about a possible war between Russia and the U.S.
