Putin regime warns of missile strikes on Europe’s nuclear power plants

"A new Chernobyl will ensue."

The warning comes just after Moscow is accused of concocting an allegation that Ukraine struck its Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant with a fibre-optic drone, which Kyiv denies.

The power plant is one of Europe's largest and sits in southeastern Ukraine, in Putin-occupied territory.

Senior Russian official Dmitry Medvedev, a former Kremlin president and premier, said it was obvious that "in the event of the catastrophic destruction of a nuclear power plant's turbine hall or reactor hall, a new Chernobyl will ensue".

He added: "The response to such actions could be a symmetrical strike against Ukrainian NPPs [nuclear power plants], as well as against NPPs in NATO countries involved in the conflict."

Alexei Likhachev, head of the Russian atomic energy corporation Rosatom, also accused Ukraine of attacking Zaporizhzhia's 6th power unit.

"This is the first targeted attack on the main equipment of a nuclear power plant in history, with a through-penetration and damage to the machine room building,” he said.

"What's next? Attacks directly on the turbine? The reactor hall? The reactor and safety systems?"

Ukraine then strongly denied all allegations, stating: "Ukrainian Defence Forces DID NOT strike the No. 6 power unit of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant."

It went on to add that the accusation is "another attempt to discredit Ukraine and hide their own criminal actions."

It's understood that Kyiv does not control territory close enough to the power plant to use a fibre-controlled drone in the vicinity.

A statement read: "Systematic manipulations around issues of nuclear safety are integral parts of the policy of nuclear terrorism, which Russia is pursuing against Ukraine and the international community."

The statement further insisted Ukraine acts "exclusively within the framework of the norms of international humanitarian law and is aware of the consequences of any actions regarding nuclear facilities."

Russia "deliberately does not show high-quality photos and video frames of the alleged consequences of the strike."

Previously, Medvedev, Putin's deputy on the Russian security council, produced an AI-generated video to warn the West of Russian drone attacks, which featured Keir Starmer.

This came after a Russian Shahed drone reportedly struck a residential high-rise in Romania, a NATO member state.

“Let them get ready: this will continue to happen. There is a war,” said Medvedev, while blaming Ukraine and the West for a strike in Starobilsk, in the occupied Luhansk region, that reportedly killed 21 students.

"Just like the terrorist strike in Starobelsk, the blood is on the hands of scumbags like Ursula [von der Leyen], [Friedrich] Merz, [Emmanuel] Macron, [Sir Keir] Starmer, and all the other repugnant parasites. So they’d better get used to it. This won’t be the last time."

The video included imagery of Russian nuclear missiles. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk urged the West to take seriously the threats coming from Putin’s ally Dmitry Medvedev, warning that the number of countries affected by Russian drone incursions is increasing.

"Poland, the Baltic states, and now Romania - more and more Russian provocations,” he said.

"Medvedev declared that the peaceful slumber of EU citizens is over. Everyone in NATO must finally start taking these facts and these words seriously."