Ukraine Claims Russia is Planning Attacks on Its Nuclear Facilities

Andriy Sybiha, Ukraine's Foreign Minister, stated on Saturday, September 31, that Russia is planning to attack the country's nuclear facilities before winter arrives. According to Reuters, he called on the International Atomic Energy Agency and Ukraine's allies to establish permanent monitoring missions at Ukraine's nuclear power plants. The Ukrainian Foreign Minister wrote on his X social media account that assessments from Ukrainian intelligence indicate that Russia intends to target the country's critical nuclear energy centers. Russia has not yet commented on Ukraine's claims. The International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN's nuclear watchdog, has not responded to Reuters' request for comment. Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian President's Office, also called for a swift global response to the potential threat of an attack on the country's nuclear facilities. He stated on the messaging platform Telegram that preparedness for a possible nuclear disaster scenario from Russia, which he referred to as 'terrorist,' is essential. Yermak urged the world, especially Western countries, to take 'immediate and necessary' actions to prevent a nuclear disaster. In another report, Reuters cites informed sources stating that the Islamic Republic has sent ballistic missiles to Russia but has not provided them with the launchers. According to three informed sources, including a European diplomat, a European intelligence official, and an American official, it is unclear why the Islamic Republic sent the 'Fateh 360' missiles to Russia without the launchers. The absence of launchers raises serious questions about the operational capability of the missiles sent to Russia. The American official, who spoke on condition of anonymity like other sources, stated that the Islamic Republic had not delivered the launchers at the time of the U.S. announcement regarding the missile delivery to Russia. The European intelligence official, without providing details, said they do not expect the Islamic Republic to provide the launchers to Russia. Two experts told Reuters that there are several reasons for the non-delivery of the launchers. They suggested that Russia might use modified trucks, similar to Iran, to transport the missiles. On the other hand, it is possible that the Islamic Republic aims to reduce tensions by not sending the launchers to create space for dialogue with Western powers. Robert Wood, the U.S. Deputy Representative to the United Nations, recently stated in a UN Security Council meeting that Russia received its first shipment of hundreds of Iranian-made ballistic missiles this month. He noted that Iran and Russia signed a weapons contract for Iranian missiles in late last year, and this summer, Iranian personnel trained Russian military personnel on the use of the short-range 'Fateh 360' missiles. He added that the missiles delivered to Russia have a maximum range of 75 miles, allowing Russia to reserve its long-range missiles for attacks on more distant targets in Ukraine, expand its arsenal, and be capable of destroying much of Ukraine's infrastructure as winter approaches. Robert Wood described this action by the Islamic Republic as a 'very destabilizing' development that would add to the suffering of the Ukrainian people. The U.S. Deputy Representative to the UN reminded that the Islamic Republic has provided thousands of drones to Russia over the past two and a half years, which Putin's forces have used to attack Ukrainian civilians and civilian infrastructure.