Shay Brennan warns of deliberate attacks near nuclear reactors
Shay Brennan raised alarm about what he described as deliberate Russian attacks on and near nuclear reactors in Ukraine, naming Chernobyl and other power stations and saying the strikes were intentional. He argued Russian forces have occupied and militarized plants, taken employees of the Zaborizhian nuclear plant as hostages, and shelled stations to intimidate Ukraine and Europe.
Allegations of deliberate targeting
He said "What they are doing, it's on purpose." He recounted that Russian troops entered the Chernobyl zone, dug soil in forest areas, and occupied and took control of the Parisian nuclear plant, which he described as one of the largest in Europe. He said those sites were militarized with weapons kept inside the plant and on roofs.
Hostages and shelling
He stated that employees of the Zaborizhian nuclear plant have been taken as hostages and that Russian forces are shelling stations, including recent attacks on Chernobyl. He warned that explosive ordnance near reactors could damage cooling systems and risk a nuclear meltdown, stressing the transboundary danger of radiation.
IAEA monitoring and limits
He noted the International Atomic Energy Agency issued announcements after recent attacks - including a reported shelling on 6 October - but said the IAEA can only report and monitor because it is not physically present to intervene. He described IAEA statements as expressions of concern that nevertheless face practical limits.
Broader intimidation and hybrid tactics
He framed the nuclear incidents as part of a wider pattern of intimidation and hybrid warfare, saying the actions test how far Russia can go and seek to provoke responses from Europe. He listed other methods he said are being used - drone flights over EU territory, airspace incursions, immigration pressure, weaponizing winter and energy, the use of children, cyber attacks and blackmail by nuclear energy - as evidence of a multifaceted threat.
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Your Excellency, very nice to meet you. My apologies for missing the earlier part of your contribution. I did closely read your opening statement, and I noted many concerning issues within that statement. But one in particular caught my attention, and that is what seems to be persistent Russian attacks on or near the nuclear reactors in Ukraine. I note, obviously, Chernobyl is one of concern, and I'm not a good issue. Thank you. I was going to struggle with that. So, first question is, how big of a potential issue is this? Obviously, using explosive ordinance close to nuclear reactors could damage them or eliminate their powers to such an extent that cooling is prevented, and we have a nuclear meltdown. I'm not saying it's likely, but Russia can't be doing this by accident. What, in your view, is driving them to actually target at or near these plants? Is it a case of they're trying to just cut off the electricity supply? Or could there be something more sinister there, in that they're trying to actually trigger something potentially more sinister? And finally, have the International Atomic Energy Agency any comment on this? Have they been monitoring the situation? And what is the level of their concern? Thank you so much for your questions. Of course, it happened, and it is happening not by accident, so it's on purpose. What they are doing, it's on purpose. And, for instance, in the beginning of the full-scale invasion, so Russian troops entered to the the Chernobyl zone, nuclear zone, and digged soil in the forest, etc., which is very dangerous, very dangerous. So, and believe me, they knew what they do. Then they occupied and take control right now over the the Parisian nuclear plant, which is one of the largest one in Europe, and militarized this nuclear powers plant. They take, even now, they take employees of the the Zaborizhian nuclear plant, as hostages. Even now. What I mentioned is, militarized, so they keep weapons not only inside the plant, but on, like, on roof, whatever. So, and they are shelling this station, and like recently Chernobyl, of course on purpose, because it's one of you know, they use the same playbook so they try to intimidate well, Ukraine, Ukrainians but Europe as well because radiation atomic, nuclear energy doesn't have any border, you know it will spread in case of catastrophe immediately everywhere, so they are doing it on purpose, it's the same like they use drones over the territory of some countries of European Union you know, it's test for Putin how far he can move, he can go further so it's test for the unit here, for for actually the possible response from Europe and with regard atomic IEA by atomic energy organization so yes, they first of all after, for instance even after the last attack it seems to be on 6th of October so immediately they announced about such a shellings and about danger and so but it's I mean they cannot do something because they are not there you know they just fix such cases and of course it's huge concern for all of us but first of all as we said we had to we have to push on Putin to demilitarize the Parisian nuclear power station it's very dangerous and just a follow-up to that I appreciate what you're saying that they're trying to intimidate obviously the Ukraine and the rest of Europe is do you feel the European community the international community is taking that threat seriously enough and is there more that could be done there it's very complicated question I guess the European Union and European partners takes it seriously now maybe not in the beginning of the full scale invasion but now I think more our partners and European countries have realized that Putin and Russia poses threats to all of us through different different means through blackmailing by nuclear energy by bombardments by testing airspace and crossing airspace borders by using Ukrainians immigrants immigration as well by using weaponizing winter weaponizing energy using children all means and hybrid war as well and cyber attacks as well and we are witnessing right now all these tools which Putin uses thanks for that for you
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