DISINFO: Ukraine attacked the Chornobyl nuclear plant to hamper peace talks
SUMMARY
Once again, the Western “party of war” is playing out the escalation scenario in order to hamper peace talks. Zelensky and Yermak are accusing Russia of striking the sarcophagus of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant. However, there are all indications that this attack was realised by Ukraine’s Intelligence.
The tactics of the “hawks” is well-known: the Bucha provocation, strikes at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, destruction of the Kakhovka Dam – each time, Russia is accused of these provocations. Today, the accusations against Russia came up just when Trump began talking about Moscow’s return to the G7.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about false flag operations, not backed up with evidence, and aiming to exploit fears about a nuclear catastrophe as part of Russia’s nuclear blackmail campaign. It is also an attempt to portray Ukraine as invested in continuing the war, in the context of US administration efforts to start peace negotiations with the Russian Federation.
This message is connected to the 14 February 2025 Russian Shaheed drone attack on the Chornobyl nuclear power plant. This attack took place on the day of the Munich Security Conference, and it is clearly aimed at the nuclear intimidation of Ukraine, the EU and the US authorities.
Accusing others of “false flag operations” and “setups” to increase tensions or cover Russia’s own illicit actions are frequent pro-Kremlin disinformation techniques. Russian authorities and pro-Kremlin outlets frequently make these claims even if nothing emerges afterwards, aiming to reinforce the narrative that Russia is constantly the victim of such operations.
This is not the first time the Kremlin’s manipulation and disinformation machine has used a deep-seated and reasonable fear of a nuclear disaster to advance its political and military goals in Ukraine. Pro-Kremlin sources have previously accused Ukraine of constructing a dirty nuclear bomb or carrying out a provocation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
In fact, Russia has adopted many reckless actions regarding this facility, including placing military equipment and troops inside its premises, using its surroundings as a base for rocket and missile attacks, and interrupting its power line. Besides, Russia rejected UN proposals to demilitarise the areas surrounding the plant, as it was deliberately waging a fear campaign about the risks of a nuclear disaster in order to advance its goals in Ukraine.
See similar disinformation cases claiming that the UK is supervising the preparation of a provocation at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant by Kyiv, that Ukraine may blow the Zaporizhzhia nuclear site up to cover up the failure of the counter-offensive, that the US wants to prepare the world for a provocation at the Zaporizhzhia NPP, that Ukraine will carry out a nuclear attack with British help to involve NATO in war, that Kyiv prepares to carry out an attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, or that Ukraine will blackmail Russia with setting up a second Chernobyl nuclear disaster.