WFUWO: Single decision by Russia could lead to global nuclear catastrophe

One decision by Russia could lead to a nuclear disaster, with the consequences of the Kremlin’s full-scale aggression spreading far beyond Ukraine. This warning was issued in a statement by the World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations (WFUWO) in response to Russia’s use 10 days ago of an intercontinental ballistic missile against Ukraine.

“Moscow does not need to deploy tactical nuclear missiles to cause a nuclear catastrophe,” the WFUWO said, referencing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s remarks at the UN General Assembly on Sept. 25, where he warned the world of the threat of a potential nuclear catastrophe in Ukraine this winter.

Zelenskyy highlighted that Russia had already destroyed much of Ukraine’s thermal and hydroelectric power plants and noted that, according to Ukrainian intelligence, Moscow plans to target infrastructure around Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, aiming to sever these stations from the national energy grid.

By targeting substations, including those near nuclear plants, Russian missiles could directly hit nuclear facilities, the organization warned.

“Such an accident, almost 40 years after [the 1986] Chornobyl [nuclear accident], would put Europe in a direct path of a radioactive fallout,” the statement said.

As winter begins to settle in, European leaders must urgently warn Moscow not to consider destroying Ukraine’s remaining energy infrastructure or attacking the areas around Ukraine’s three active nuclear power plants, two of which are near the European Union’s borders.

The WFUWO also reiterated its call for the international community to condemn Russia for its plans to destroy Ukraine’s energy networks this winter, which would “freeze and starve the Ukrainians.”