Russia wants to build a military facility in a port on the Sea of Azov

The Kremlin intends to set up a military facility on the territory of the Azovstal steel mill in occupied Mariupol.

The military facility is to be connected to the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant.

This was stated by the head of the Centre for the study of the occupation of Ukraine Petro Andryushchenko in Telegram.

He commented on copies of the pages of the territorial planning project drawn up by the Russians - namely the Donbas National Academy of Construction and Architecture.

The Azovstal plant in Mariupol has an extensive underground infrastructure; it was one of the important defence centres of the Ukrainian Armed Forces during the first months of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Now, control of the facility allows the occupiers to use the infrastructure for their own military purposes.

Connecting the Russian military facility under construction to ZNPP, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, could increase the security threat and use the nuclear plant for strategic purposes. This increases the risks of escalation and requires attention from the international community and organisations responsible for the safety of nuclear facilities.

The area of Azovstal is 11 square kilometres and the enterprise has access to the port.

According to the documents, it is about reconstruction of the 110 kV high voltage line "Zarya-Ilyich" with an additional branch to Azovstal No. 7 substation and construction of a new 110 kV line "Zarya-Azovstal No. 8". The customer of the project is Kashpin LLC. The works include restoration or construction of about 26.68 kilometres of lines, as well as replacement of 18 transmission towers.

Andryushchenko notes that the project is based on the order of the so-called ministroy of the DNR dated 6 August 2025. According to him, the line suddenly breaks on the right bank of the Kalmius River. He emphasises that this is a clear hint at the military nature of the facility.

And now the main thing: the line suddenly ends on the right bank of the Kalmius. Before entering the territory of Azovstal. That's it. Further - silence. All other infrastructure plans have been classified," the expert points out.

He also points out that this is not just a power line, but a part of a new energy highway, by which the Russian Federation intends to connect Zaporizhzhya NPP with Donbas. The route passes through Volnovakha and Telmanovo, and then deep into Russian territory.

Actually, what we have been talking about for over a year is becoming a reality. Under the demonstrative silence of the IAEA and Energoatom," Andryushchenko writes.