Growing Concerns Over Vulnerability of Nuclear Facilities to Modern Warfare Tactics

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 20:31:00 +0200

The article argues that modern warfare is shifting away from traditional nuclear weapons toward targeting existing nuclear facilities using cheaper technologies such as drones, missiles, and cyberattacks. It suggests that nuclear power plants, spent fuel pools, and transport systems have become strategic vulnerabilities that adversaries could exploit, potentially causing catastrophic radiological consequences without deploying nuclear warheads.

The piece highlights the risks of attacking nuclear infrastructure, noting that even non-nuclear strikes could trigger disasters comparable to or worse than Chernobyl or Fukushima if containment systems are breached. It references concerns raised by experts and institutions like the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, emphasizing that strikes on active nuclear reactors could release massive amounts of radioactive material, affecting entire regions.

The article also points to recent conflicts and incidents, including attacks near or involving nu