Russia says Ukraine storing arms at nuclear plants, Kyiv denies claim

Russia's foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), Monday (23 January), accused Ukraine of storing Western-supplied weapons at its nuclear power stations. A senior Ukrainian official dismissed the allegation as false.

The Russian spy agency did not provide any evidence.

According to an SVR statement, HIMARS rocket launchers and air defense systems from the United States were delivered to Rivne nuclear power plant in northwest Ukraine.

It stated that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are keeping weapons and ammunition supplied by the West on the territory for nuclear power stations.

When asked about Monday's report, Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson, said that the claims showed the importance of dialogue with the International Atomic Energy Agency, United Nations' nuclear watchdog.

Peskov stated that there are no plans to meet with President Vladimir Putin and Rafael Grossi, IAEA head.

Mykhailo Polyak, a consultant to President Volodomyr Zelenskiy of Ukraine, stated that his country has never used nuclear power stations (NPPs) to store weapons.

According to Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service, Ukraine has not stored weapons on NPP territory. He stated on Twitter that the Russian Federation had seized Zaporizhzhia's nuclear power plant and kept its military there.

Podolyak stated that Ukraine was still "open to inspecting body, including the IAEA", and that Russian lies were aimed at justifying their provocations.

Since the beginning of the conflict, Ukraine's numerous nuclear power stations have been the center of attention. The Russian forces captured the defunct Chornobyl nuke power plant within 48 hours of troops entering. They also captured Zaporizhzhia, the largest nuclear power station in Europe, early in the war.

Both Moscow and Kyiv have been accused of attacking Zaporizhzhia. The Ukrainian government also claims that Russia uses the site as an illegal weapons depot.

The IAEA expressed concern about attacks on the plant and warned of the danger of nuclear disaster.

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