Russia’s Attacks on Ukraine’s Power and Nuclear Facilities Show No Interest in Peace, Says Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia’s continued attacks on Ukraine’s energy system, including actions that could endanger nuclear power plants, show that Moscow has no real interest in ending the war, Zelenskyy said during an address on January 18.

Zelenskyy stated that Russia’s primary and constant target remains Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, with repair crews working around the clock after nightly strikes.

Nearly 58,000 specialists are involved in restoring power grids, generation facilities, and heating networks, with additional teams deployed to Kyiv, where the situation is described as particularly difficult.

“If the Russians truly wanted to end the war, they would focus on diplomacy, not on missile attacks, blackouts, and attempts to harm even our nuclear power plants,” he said.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine has intelligence indicating that Russia conducted reconnaissance on specific sites in preparation for strikes, including sensitive energy facilities.

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“Everything clearly shows that diplomacy is definitely not a priority for Russia,” he said, adding that the pressure on Moscow must continue because “the real cause of this war is in Moscow.”

Ukrainian capital Kyiv’s Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko has also said that the capital facing an extremely difficult situation, unprecedented in scale over four years of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as the capital struggles to restore heating and electricity after recent Russian mass attacks on infrastructure.

President Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine is increasing its electricity imports and thanked partners for delivering the agreed-upon support, highlighting the start of equipment deliveries from Italy following talks with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

He also praised Ukrainian energy companies and emergency crews for maintaining stability under constant attack. He said Kyiv would continue working with allies, including the United States, to push for stronger international pressure on Russia.

Previously, it was reported that the Russian forces are using the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in southeastern Ukraine to launch drone strikes and store military equipment, according to the Ukrainian military.

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