Ukraine has accused Russia of "nuclear terrorism" after Moscow obtained a license to restart reactor 1 at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, the world’s largest in Eastern Europe. Energoatom’s interim president Pavlo Kovtoniuk warned that the Russian move could trigger a catastrophic incident that would threaten all of Europe. The reactor, which had been shut for safety reasons since September 2022, relies on Ukrainian safety systems and fuel supplied by the American company Westinghouse. Russian regulator Rostekhnadzor issued the licence in January, while Rosatom director Alexey Likhachev said the plant would be a key pillar for the region’s industrial recovery. Ukrainian officials and former plant staff say the licence was unjustified, citing limited Russian repairs that exclude essential Ukrainian automation. Meanwhile, Russia continues to strike Ukraine’s power grid, especially substations feeding the nuclear plant, further heightening safety risks. The situation remains a stark example of the war’s impact on civilian infrastructure and nuclear safety.

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