“In order to force Ukraine to sign unacceptable surrender demands to end the war, the aggressor state Russia is considering the option of attacking strategic facilities of our state’s energy system \u2014 we are talking about electricity transmission substations that ensure the operation of Ukrainian nuclear power plants.”<\/p>\n
US ACCUSES RUSSIA OF ‘DANGEROUS AND INEXPLICABLE ESCALATION’ IN UKRAINE WAR DURING PEACE NEGOTIATIONS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been under Russian occupation since March 2022. (Ed Ram\/Washington Post via Getty Images)<\/p>\n “The threat is at ZNPP,” a source told Fox News Digital. “There are talks of a massive attack either tonight or in the coming nights,” the source said on condition of anonymity, adding that “the talks within the Ukrainian government are about ZNPP and the lines, and these talks have not been for the first time.”<\/p>\n According to The Associated Press<\/a>, Russia also targeted energy infrastructure<\/a> in Odesa region overnight Sunday, according to Ukraine\u2019s Emergency Service.<\/p>\n ZNPP is located in southern Ukraine and consists of six VVER-1000 pressurized water reactors, and has been under Russian occupation since March 2022, according to reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n Although the reactors are no longer producing electricity, the plant needs external power to maintain cooling and safety systems.\u00a0<\/p>\n The IAEA has repeatedly warned that disruptions to off-site power supplies and lines pose a serious nuclear safety risk.<\/p>\n A Jan. 16 localized ceasefire was agreed<\/a> between Russia and Ukraine for repairs under IAEA coordination<\/a> on one backup power line at ZNPP that had already been damaged.<\/p>\n In a statement, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said Jan. 16: “The IAEA continues to work closely with both sides to ensure nuclear safety at the ZNPP and to prevent a nuclear accident during the conflict. This temporary ceasefire, the fourth we have negotiated, demonstrates the indispensable role that we continue to play.”<\/p>\n “A deterioration of Ukraine\u2019s power grid from persistent military activity has direct implications on the nuclear safety of its nuclear facilities,” Grossi said.<\/p>\n “Russia is said to be going to do this strike, maybe even tonight,” the source said of the ZNPP operation.<\/p>\n RUSSIA FIRES NEW BALLISTIC MISSILE AT UKRAINE, KILLING AT LEAST FOUR<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly set his sights on Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant lines, according to a source. (Ramil Sitdikov\/POOL\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n “Information also from the Ukrainian Parliament and Ukrainian Security Service, or internally, is that the Russian army told the Ukrainian army that if they don’t stop shelling their tankers in the sea or shelling their oil refineries, as well as their electric stations like power stations,” the source said, “then they will fully destroy Kyiv energy facilities aswell<\/a>.”<\/p>\n “The parliament knows this. But we keep shelling,” the source added.<\/p>\n “This is a very difficult situation,” the source continued, saying Ukrainian leadership, the Ukrainian parliament and “obviously the office of the president” are fully aware that “if we keep shelling Russian tankers and oil refineries, then they will destroy everything that we have.”<\/p>\n President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also recently urged NATO allies<\/a> to urgently deliver additional air-defense missiles, warning that some systems are running low on ammunition, according to reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n![\"Zaporizhzhia](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/zaporizhzhia-nuclear-power-plant-.jpg\")
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