Russian nuclear head warns Zaporizhzhia plant nears 'point of no returnpoint of no return'
Russia’s nuclear chief said on May 18 that the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine is nearing a “point of no return” after renewed attacks around the site.
The warning follows repeated strikes near Europe’s largest nuclear plant and raises concern about safety at a facility that remains central to the wider Russia-Ukraine war.
Russian Perspective
Rosatom and the Russia-installed management at Zaporizhzhia say Ukrainian attacks are putting the plant under growing strain. They frame the situation as a deteriorating nuclear safety risk that needs immediate de-escalation from outside powers.
Ukrainian Perspective
Ukraine has said Russian forces control the plant and the surrounding area, making the facility a military and nuclear liability created by Russia’s occupation. From that view, Russian complaints about attacks do not address the broader danger caused by keeping the plant under armed control.
- Zaporizhzhia oblast is Ukraine’s largest administrative region by area.
- Nuclear plants are designed with multiple backup systems to prevent overheating during power loss.
- The plant sits on the Dnipro River, a major waterway in southern Ukraine.
Russia-Ukraine War
Russia and Ukraine are locked in an retaliatory long-range drone and missile war that now strikes deep into both countries, including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Crimea, and major Ukrainian cities like Kyiv and Dnipro. Ukrainian forces launched one of their largest drone attacks on June 26, striking 12 Russian regions and hitting key energy targets, while Russia continues massive retaliatory bombardments that kill civilians and destroy infrastructure.
26 June, 09:41 AM
Ukraine unleashes massive drone bombardment on 12 Russian regions24 June, 10:31 AM
Ukrainian drones knock out power in Russian-held Sevastopol22 June, 03:20 PM
Ukraine strikes Russian missile electronics plant in Voronezh
