Russia plots major strike on Europe's largest nuclear plant power lines: source

Fox News - WorldCenter-RightEN 3 min read 100% complete by Emma BusseyJanuary 19, 2026 at 01:21 AM

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

According to a source, Russia is planning a major attack on the power lines of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), Europe's largest nuclear facility, potentially within days. Ukrainian intelligence previously warned of potential Russian attacks on substations critical to nuclear power generation, aiming to pressure Ukraine into surrender. The ZNPP, located in southern Ukraine and under Russian occupation since March 2022, requires external power for essential cooling and safety systems, despite its reactors being offline. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly cautioned about the severe nuclear safety risks associated with disruptions to the plant's power supply. While a localized ceasefire was recently agreed upon for repairs to a damaged backup power line, the threat of a large-scale attack remains.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

United States 40% Odesa 40% Rafael Mariano Grossi 50% Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry (HUR) 60% International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) ×370% Ukraine ×580% Russia ×690% Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) ×695%

Keywords

nuclear power plant 100% zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant 90% power lines 80% russia 70% ukraine 70% nuclear safety 60% iaea 50% attack 50% energy infrastructure 50% cooling systems 40%