Russia has attacked substations critical to Ukraine’s nuclear safety 155 times since the start of its full-scale invasion, Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal said on 26 April, according to Ukrinform.
Ukraine’s energy system has faced sustained Russian strikes since 2022, with repeated attacks on generation and transmission infrastructure tied to nuclear output. Officials say this has created ongoing risks for grid stability, particularly during peak demand periods.
Speaking at an international Chornobyl conference on recovery and nuclear safety on the anniversary of the 1986 disaster at the site, Shmyhal said the strikes targeted infrastructure responsible for transmitting power from Ukraine’s nuclear plants into the national grid.
155 attacks threatening nuclear safety
“Since the start of the full-scale war, Russia has carried out 155 attacks on substations that ensure the output of nuclear power plants into the energy system,” he said.
He warned that successful strikes on such facilities create risks of emergency shutdowns, disrupt stable grid operation, and increase pressure on the safe functioning of nuclear units.
Nuclear power remains a central part of Ukraine’s electricity supply, making substations and transmission corridors key targets in Russia’s ongoing strikes on Ukraine’s energy system.
Call for air defence and sanctions
Shmyhal stressed the need for modern air defence systems to protect energy infrastructure, particularly against ballistic missiles and drones.
He also called for tougher sanctions on Russia’s energy sector, including the nuclear industry, and stronger restrictions on Rosatom.
The Russian state nuclear corporation has faced mounting criticism in Ukraine and among Western partners over its role in Russia’s occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in eastern Ukraine, which remains under Russian control.
Financing and recovery needs
Separately, Shmyhal said Ukraine needs at least €500 million to restore the Chornobyl New Safe Confinement, the massive protective structure built to seal off the destroyed reactor at the 1986 disaster site.
The shelter was damaged in a Russian drone strike in 2025, weakening key safety functions and forcing Ukraine and its partners to mobilise emergency repairs and long-term reconstruction efforts to maintain nuclear safety at the site.
He also pointed to broader energy sector funding needs ahead of the next heating season, as Ukraine continues to repair critical infrastructure damaged during the war.
