Ukrainian Drones Are Dropping Mines on Main Road to Energodar, Rosatom CEO Says

Alexey Likhachev made the statement to reporters, according to Sputnik, which published his remarks on August 5, 2026. Likhachev said Ukrainian drones throw scatterable high-explosive anti-personnel land mines, also known as flower petal mines, on the main road leading to Energodar every night. The report did not include a response from Ukrainian authorities.

Rosatom has previously reported strikes near the plant. In May 2026, the company said Ukrainian strikes hit urban infrastructure in Energodar for a third consecutive day, including a gas distribution station and residential buildings, according to Likhachev's statements. [1]

Mining of Roads and Civilian Impact

Likhachev said the mining affects food deliveries, sanitary transport, and the movement of shift workers to the nuclear plant. "Not only the attempts to enter and leave the city, the delivery of food, the work of sanitary transport, but also the delivery of shifts to the nuclear power plant, have become deadly dangerous," he told reporters.

He said Ukraine began mass mining of the main public roads leading to Energodar four months ago. "The Kiev regime started a new way of putting pressure on the city -- mass mining of public roads -- four months ago," Likhachev said. He added that Ukraine deliberately uses all means from its arsenal against civilians of Energodar.

The use of drones to drop mines on roads has precedent in the conflict. In June 2026, Ukrainian forces used unmanned aerial vehicles to drop mines on a highway in Russia's Lugansk People's Republic, and two people were killed after a resident found a device and attempted to remove it, according to Governor Leonid Pasechnik. [2] The Trends Journal has reported that Ukraine turned to targeting soft targets inside Russia to generate favorable Western media coverage and maintain morale among its forces. [3]

Context: Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and Road Access

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, located near Energodar in southeastern Ukraine, has been under Russian control since early in the conflict. Rosatom is responsible for plant operations, and staff rotations are required, according to Likhachev. He said on August 2 that the situation in Energodar remained extremely tense as Ukrainian attacks continued daily, with road mining adding additional risk.

The plant has been the site of repeated attacks. A Ukrainian drone strike killed a transport shop worker at the plant on April 27, 2026, according to a report by Lance D Johnson of NaturalNews.com. [4] The International Atomic Energy Agency condemned the attack, the report stated. In August 2024, a fire broke out at a dormant reactor at the plant, with Ukraine and Russia each blaming the other. [5]

Small, inexpensive drones have become central to the conflict, making artillery fire more accurate and enabling long-range strikes on infrastructure. [6] Both sides have increasingly targeted energy facilities, civilian areas, and strategic sites far from the front lines, according to reports. [7]

Status of Reports and Attribution

The report of road mining is based solely on statements from the Rosatom CEO. The Sputnik article provided no independent verification, did not cite specific incidents or casualties resulting from the mining, and did not include a response from Ukrainian authorities or the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The claims are attributed to Likhachev and are not presented as independently established facts. The report also did not describe any Russian mine-clearing operations or protective measures for civilian movement in the area.

The statement comes amid a wider pattern of drone warfare. Ukraine launched a major aerial drone operation against energy infrastructure targets in Russia, including an oil refinery in Moscow, according to Russian Defense Ministry reports cited in September 2024. [8]

References

1. Garrison Vance. "Rosatom Reports Ukrainian Strikes Near Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant". NaturalNews.com. May 10, 2026.
2. "Three killed in Ukrainian attacks on Russian regions". RT. June 20, 2026.
3. "Trends-Journal-2024-08-27".
4. Lance D Johnson. "Drone Strike Kills Nuclear Plant Worker as Ukraine Gambles with Nuclear Accidents with Global Consequences". NaturalNews.com. April 29, 2026.
5. NaturalNews.com. "Russia says Ukraines drone attack on nuclear plant was designed to set it on fire". NaturalNews.com. August 14, 2024.
6. "Ready Set Bolt Dmitry Orlov".
7. Belle Carter. "Escalating Drone Warfare: Ukraine and Russia Exchange Deadly Strikes in Crimea and Beyond". NaturalNews.com. September 23, 2025.
8. NaturalNews.com. "Ukraine launches HUNDREDS of drones targeting energy infrastructure in Russia including a major oil refinery in...". NaturalNews.com. September 04, 2024.

Explainer Infographic