The Claim
An RT article titled “West trained Ukrainian saboteurs to target Russian nuclear sites – Moscow” claims that Western intelligence services, particularly the British MI6, have trained Ukrainian operatives to sabotage Russian nuclear power facilities. Russia’s envoy to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, falsely alleges that Ukrainian forces, with Western support, have attempted to target and destabilize nuclear sites, potentially leading to a “radiation nightmare” across Europe. The article also repeats the claim that Ukraine planned to attack the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant but was thwarted by Russian military forces.
The Facts
- There is no verified evidence from independent sources or international organizations to support the claim that Western intelligence services are training Ukrainian saboteurs to attack Russian nuclear facilities.
- This is a recycled Russian disinformation narrative that first appeared in July 2023.
- There are reports that that Russia uses the Zaporizhzhia nuclear site as a so-called “sheltered” artillery park, “using the facilities to fire on Ukrainian positions in the belief that Ukraine would not fire back and risk a nuclear accident”.
Narrative Context
- The article aligns with a broader Russian disinformation narrative that frames Ukraine as not only a reckless aggressor but also a direct threat to global security, using nuclear provocations as a centerpiece.
- The Kremlin regularly preys on fears of nuclear catastrophe to advance its political aims in the Western world.
- This narrative serves to delegitimize Ukraine’s government and its Western supporters, casting them as endangering not just Russia but the entire European continent.
- By emphasizing a supposed Western role in supporting Ukrainian sabotage operations, the article aims to discredit Western involvement in the conflict and shift blame for nuclear safety concerns from Russia to Ukraine and its allies.
- The portrayal of Ukraine’s actions as “terrorist” in nature is a recurring theme in Russian state media, aimed at justifying Russia’s military operations and bolstering domestic and international support for the Kremlin’s broader war aims.
