Russia Cannot Destroy Ukraine’s Nuclear Facilities, Foreign Ministry Says, Urges IAEA And Partners To Act

On September 30, a Russian attack drone targeted the Institute for Nuclear Research of the National Academy of Sciences in Kyiv, just 100 meters from a research nuclear reactor, according to Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry. The ministry condemned the attack, describing it as an act of "Russian nuclear terror" that continued a series of assaults on Ukraine’s nuclear sector.

In recent days, Russian drones have struck several key Ukrainian nuclear and scientific institutions, including a building used by Energoatom and the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The latter attack resulted in severe damage and two fatalities.

The ministry emphasized that these actions targeted Ukraine’s nuclear science, urging the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and international partners to act decisively. Kyiv called on the IAEA director general to condemn the latest Russian attack and demand an immediate halt to such strikes. Moreover, Ukraine urged its partners to tighten sanctions against Russia’s nuclear sector, particularly Rosatom, and restrict institutional cooperation with Russian scientific organizations.

The ministry also called for enhanced protection of vulnerable facilities and an acceleration of air defense systems, missiles, and interception capabilities to counter Russian drone attacks.

Despite the September 30 drone strike, the Institute for Nuclear Research stated that no one was injured and that the research reactor and safety-critical systems remained undamaged. The ministry stressed the need for defensive measures and sanctions to deter Russia from further attacks on Ukraine’s nuclear facilities and hold Russia accountable for its actions.