MOSCOW (Realist English). Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova has dismissed as groundless allegations in the foreign press that the Metsamor nuclear power plant in Armenia poses a security threat to the region.
According to her, such “politically motivated” assessments are an attempt to drive a wedge into Russian-Armenian energy cooperation.
“We regard such disinformation as attempts to sow discord in Russian-Armenian cooperation in this sector and to hinder the development of initiatives involving Russia,” Zakharova said.
She also noted that similar plants operating on the same technologies in some European countries do not attract such criticism.
Metsamor NPP: seismic resilience and safety margin
Zakharova stressed that the plant has a “solid safety margin” and that its reactor unit has been specially adapted to the region’s high seismic activity. Proof of its reliability, she said, was the proper operation of safety systems during the devastating 1988 Spitak earthquake. After necessary restoration work, the plant was brought back online in 1995.
Currently, Russian and Armenian specialists are carrying out a comprehensive programme to extend the plant’s service life until 2036. In December 2023, Rusatom Service and CJSC Armenian Nuclear Power Plant signed a framework contract to implement this programme.
Earlier, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that extending the operation of the Metsamor NPP “would lay a solid foundation for a smooth transition to a new power unit.”
Armenia’s energy security
The Metsamor NPP, located about 30 km from Yerevan, is the only nuclear power plant in the South Caucasus. It plays a “system‑forming role” in the republic’s energy balance, generating about 30% of all electricity. As Zakharova noted, stable generation of affordable electricity has allowed Armenia to develop its industry and ensure technological progress.
The Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson warned that closing the country’s own nuclear plant would only strengthen its energy dependence on other states: “In today’s world, peaceful nuclear energy is one of the factors of sovereignty and energy security.”
International context and the IAEA position
The plant’s reliability has also been confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, who visited the plant in October 2022, acknowledged that all measures had been taken to enhance nuclear and physical safety.
At the same time, Western experts note that the Metsamor NPP reactor lacks a primary containment vessel – a standard feature of later VVER models, designed to prevent radiation leaks in accidents. However, according to Russian specialists, the plant is designed to withstand earthquakes of up to magnitude 9.
Zakharova’s statements come amid ongoing discussions about the future of Armenia’s nuclear energy. In February 2026, reports emerged about the possible participation of US companies in building a new power unit in Armenia. Yerevan has not yet decided on the model for the new nuclear plant.
Moscow, for its part, insists that there is no alternative to Russia in the construction of a new nuclear plant in Armenia, and is ready to “begin implementing the project in the shortest possible time.”
As Zakharova stressed, Western projects and technologies “are significantly inferior to Russian ones, including in terms of safety.”
