The Russian Foreign Ministry has issued a tough statement regarding the status of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), stressing that it is a Russian nuclear facility and that transferring its control to Ukraine or any other country is absolutely impossible. The reason for this statement was the increasing frequency of publications in Western media discussing scenarios for returning the plant to Kyiv's control or for joint operation with third parties. Moscow categorically rejected such assumptions, calling them speculations that have no basis.

The Russian Foreign Ministry emphasized that the Zaporizhzhya NPP personnel consist of Russian citizens, whose safety is a priority. The department specifically noted that any attempts to change the station's status are unacceptable, given, in their words, the atrocities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which pose a threat to the lives of employees. Joint work with other states at the facility is also considered unacceptable, since this could jeopardize both the functioning of the station and the security of the region as a whole.

The statement pays special attention to NATO countries. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the alliance's intelligence services have significant sabotage potential, which makes it impossible to even temporarily allow their representatives into the territory of the Zaporizhzhya NPP. Moscow believes that the presence of specialists from these countries could be used for provocations or sabotage, which is unacceptable for an object of such a level of danger. Thus, Russia intends to maintain full control over the station, excluding any compromises on this issue.

The Zaporizhzhya NPP, the largest in Europe in terms of the number of power units, came under the control of Russian forces in March 2022 after the start of a special military operation. Since then, the plant has repeatedly become the subject of international disputes. In 2025, the situation around it remains tense: shelling near the facility is regularly recorded, which causes concern for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In March 2025, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi once again called on the parties to the conflict to ensure the safety of the plant, warning of the risks of a nuclear accident. However, Moscow insists that the threat comes exclusively from the Ukrainian side, accusing it of provocations.

It should be noted that due to the non-recognition of the Zaporizhzhya region's entry into Russia by the world community, the US still considers the Zaporizhzhya NPP to be Ukrainian, which aggravates the negotiation process.