Any Russian terrorist attack on Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant will be treated as “use of nuclear weapons against civilians” – Ukraine’s top defense official

In the civilized world, any possible Russian terrorist attack on the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant will be regarded as "the use of nuclear weapons against the civilian population."

The Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Oleksiy Danilov, stated this, Radio Svoboda reports.

"The very fact, if these terrorists carry out such a terrorist attack on a nuclear facility, will be considered by all civilized countries that this is the use of nuclear weapons against the civilian population. Therefore, we will very carefully observe, if God forbid it happens, what will be the world's reaction to these events", emphasized the head of the NSDC.

Danilov also noted that the world's reaction to the explosion of the Kakhovka HPP "did not correspond to the terrorist attack that Ukraine suffered."

The Secretary of the National Security Council emphasized that Ukraine is now doing "everything possible and impossible" to prevent this terrorist attack from happening. However, the nuclear plant is now "in the hands of terrorists."

Danilov suggested that some Western partners are now explaining to Russia that this should not be done. Because the consequences for the Russian Federation will be "absolutely catastrophic."

He also commented on the probability of a terrorist attack by the Russians at the ZNPP. Danilov noted that it is difficult to say now because "these people are not predictable; they act outside any norms and rules of the world community."

In addition, the head of the National Security and Defense Council reminded that after the information about the possible terrorist attack in Ukraine, a "big exercise" was conducted, and there was "another preparation."

"We have our protocols, plans, and how we should act. Now a big exercise has taken place, one more preparation has taken place in case this terrorist act by the Russian Federation happens," he summarized.

For reference:

As early as March 4, 2022, Russian troops occupied the ZNPP.

On June 22, 2023, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Russia's plans to carry out a terrorist attack at the Zaporizhzhia NPP.

Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, said that Ukraine is carefully preparing for any scenario of the development of any possible events at the Zaporizhzhia NPP.

In his turn, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, reminded about the mining of the cooling tank of the ZNPP by Russian troops and also informed about the placement of equipment filled with explosives by the occupiers near 4 of the six power units of the plant.