Blackmail and pressure. Russia considering strikes on Ukrainian NPP substations - intelligence

The aggressor country russia is considering attacks on the substations of Ukrainian nuclear power plants. The purpose of such attacks is to force Ukraine to sign unacceptable surrender demands to end the war. This is stated in a message by the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine.

"In order to force Ukraine to sign unacceptable surrender demands to end the war, the aggressor state Russia is considering attacking strategic facilities of our country's energy system - we are talking about electricity transmission substations that ensure the operation of Ukrainian nuclear power plants," it says.

Also, according to the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, as part of its pressure campaign, moscow plans to intensify intimidation of European countries and the West in general in order to deter support for Ukraine, in particular the country's ability to repel russian terrorist air strikes on critical energy infrastructure.

The intelligence officers emphasize that by destroying or disabling these substations, moscow seeks to disconnect the NPP power units from the unified energy system of Ukraine, so that Ukrainian civilians will be completely left without electricity and heat.

As of mid-January 2026, russia has reconnoitered ten relevant critical energy infrastructure facilities in nine regions of Ukraine

"The Kremlin's intentions to attack substations in order to destroy generation at Ukrainian NPPs in such a hybrid way once again testify to the genocidal nature of Russia's war against Ukraine," the intelligence summarized.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, on January 14, the Defense Forces of the south of Ukraine showed a video filmed by a Ukrainian reconnaissance UAV. It shows that the occupiers placed military equipment close to the Zaporizhzhia NPP reactor buildings.