section_path: Impacts/Environmental impact/Nuclear risk
section_name: Nuclear risk
paragraph_text: Nuclear risk
  
  Throughout the war, Putin implied that Russia may use nuclear weapons if certain "red lines" were to be crossed. By 2024, most of the Russian government's "red lines" had been crossed without nuclear weapons being used in response.
  
  Four days into the invasion, Putin put Russia's nuclear forces on high alert, raising fears that Russia could use tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine. In response to what he called "completely irresponsible actions", Zelenskyy suggested that there should be "global control" of Russia's nuclear assets. In March 2023, Putin announced plans to install Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.
  
  The invasion had an impact on Ukraine's nuclear power plants. Russian forces captured Chernobyl on the first day, leading to a huge spike in radiation levels. Russia also captured Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest in Europe, and which has since been at risk and damaged by shelling. In August 2022, Zelenskyy described the situation as "Russian nuclear terror ". The International Atomic Energy Agency said it was the first time a military conflict occurred amid nuclear plants, and it called for a demilitarised zone around Zaporizhzhia NPP.