This is the latest horror threat from one of Putin's closest allies.

07:34, Sun, May 31, 2026 Updated: 08:54, Sun, May 31, 2026

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Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev are close allies (Image: Getty)

Russia has chillingly threatened direct missile strikes on nuclear power plants in the West and Ukraine. The sinister warning from one of Vladimir Putin's closest allies comes as Moscow is accused of concocting a claim that the Ukrainians hit Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant with a fibre-optic drone.

Senior Russian official Dmitry Medvedev said: "It is obvious that in the event of the catastrophic destruction of a nuclear power plant's turbine hall or reactor hall, a new Chernobyl will ensue. And this is not one whit better than the use of tactical nuclear weapons.

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The power plant is Europe's largest. (Image: Getty)

"The response to such actions could be a symmetrical strike against Ukrainian NPPs [nuclear power plants], as well as against NPPs in NATO countries involved in the conflict."

Ukraine overnight strongly denied claims by Alexei Likhachev, head of the Russian atomic energy corporation Rosatom, that it attacked Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, Zaporizhzhia.

He said: "This is the first targeted attack on the main equipment of a nuclear power plant in history, with a through-penetration and damage to the machine room building.

"What's next? Attacks directly on the turbine? The reactor hall? The reactor and safety systems?"

Kyiv responded: "Ukrainian Defence Forces DID NOT strike the No. 6 power unit of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant." This was "another attempt to discredit Ukraine and hide their own criminal actions."

Ukraine does not control territory close enough to the power plant to use a fibre-optic-controlled drone in the vicinity.

A statement said: "Systematic manipulations around issues of nuclear safety are integral parts of the policy of nuclear terrorism, which Russia is pursuing against Ukraine and the international community."

The statement insisted Ukraine acts "exclusively within the framework of the norms of international humanitarian law and are aware of the consequences of any actions regarding nuclear facilities".

Russia "deliberately does not show high-quality photos and video frames of the alleged consequences of the strike".