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Ukraine Alerts IAEA to Looming Russian Strikes on Nuclear-Linked Infrastructure
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Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal said he spoke with International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi about what he described as Russia’s preparations for another large-scale attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, including possible strikes on facilities and power grids serving nuclear power plants, according to Shmyhal on Telegram on January 19.
“I informed Mr. Grossi about the Russians’ preparations for another massive attack against energy infrastructure, with possible strikes on facilities and networks that serve nuclear power plants. We agreed in the near term to jointly hear the heads of nuclear power plants and the leaders of IAEA missions working at the sites,” Shmyhal wrote.
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He said the sides discussed the need to organize an extraordinary meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors to assess the consequences of Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power system.
Shmyhal said Grossi told him the agency was preparing a report and an assessment methodology to evaluate the impact of Russian attacks on the operation of nuclear power plants.
Just had an important conversation with @rafaelmgrossi. I informed him about ru preparations for another massive attack on energy infrastructure, including facilities and networks that ensure the operation of NPPs. We agreed to jointly hear briefings from the heads of UA NPPs and… pic.twitter.com/oOOGvshC9N
— Denys Shmyhal (@Denys_Shmyhal) January 19, 2026
Shmyhal said the continued presence of IAEA missions at Ukrainian energy facilities was of strategic importance, and that the agency was preparing a new expert mission to Ukrainian nuclear sites, including the Zaporizhzhia plant, as well as to substations whose operation affects nuclear facilities.
He stressed that moving IAEA missions into temporarily occupied Ukrainian regions via Russian territory was unacceptable, and said the sides agreed to continue coordinating efforts to finance Ukraine’s critical needs.
Earlier, it was reported that analysts warned Russia is attempting to fragment Ukraine’s power grid—potentially isolating nuclear plants—while the IAEA noted heightened military activity near nuclear sites, underscoring fragile energy security.
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