Russia Declares Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant a “Russian Facility”

Russia has declared that the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) is now a “Russian nuclear facility,” insisting that neither Ukraine nor any other country will ever regain control over it, Russia’s Foreign Ministry claimed on March 25.

The ministry stated that the plant’s integration into Russia’s nuclear sector was “a settled fact” and that the international community had no choice but to accept it.

“The return of the station to the Russian nuclear industry is a long-established fact, which the international community has no choice but to recognize. The transfer of the plant itself or control over it to Ukraine or any other country is impossible,” the ministry said.

Moscow also dismissed the possibility of joint operation of the plant with any other state, as well as any involvement of international organizations.

“The idea of international organizations participating in the plant’s operation is absurd, as none of them have the mandate or competence to manage nuclear facilities,” the statement read.

Russia justified its stance by citing “nuclear security concerns” and the alleged threat posed by NATO intelligence cooperation with Ukraine, which, according to Moscow, makes even temporary access for international representatives “impossible.”

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War in Ukraine

Why Europe Can’t Afford to Lose Its Largest Nuclear Plant to Russia

Mar 25, 2025 12:33

ZNPP, Europe’s largest, has been under Russian occupation since March 2022.

Ukraine and international organizations, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), have repeatedly called for its return to Ukrainian control, citing safety concerns and the risks posed by military operations in the region.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, following negotiations in Riyadh between Ukrainian and US delegations, addressed the ongoing situation at the ZNPP and the challenges it faces.

“We talked about the ZNPP with him [US President Donald Trump] once over the phone. I believe they also discussed it with the Russians. We talked about the nuclear plant, and I told him that just the station itself won’t work. There is a city, people live there, and their families. I mentioned that they blew up the dam, cutting off access to water—there are many issues,” Zelenskyy explained.