The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) requested access to the Zaporiyia nuclear power plant, in southeastern Ukraine, after Russia reported the impact of a drone on one of the complex’s structures.
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The plant, considered the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, has been under Russian control since March 2022 and is located near the front line, which has maintained international concern about nuclear safety during the war.
According to reports, a drone allegedly hit the turbine hall building of power unit number 6, causing an explosion.
Rosatom director, Alexei Likhachov, stated that the explosion did not cause damage to the main equipment of the plant, although it reportedly created a hole in a wall of the turbine hall.
Likhachov described the incident as a “deliberate” attack and warned about the risks posed by military actions against nuclear facilities.
Ukraine, meanwhile, denied attacking the plant and accused Moscow of spreading a new propaganda maneuver. Ukrainian forces stated that they did not carry out attacks on the facility and assured they act in accordance with international humanitarian law.
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After the report became known, the IAEA director general, Rafael Grossi, expressed concern about the incident and requested that the agency’s team deployed in Zaporiyia be allowed to directly inspect the affected building.
“Attacking nuclear facilities is like playing with fire,” Grossi said, according to the agency.
The IAEA indicated that it was informed by the administration installed at the plant about the impact of a drone on a turbine building, and that its experts requested access to the site to assess any potential damage firsthand.
If confirmed, it would be the first drone attack within the plant’s perimeter since April 2024, according to the international organization.
The Zaporiyia plant has been the scene of repeated alerts since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Although it currently does not produce electricity, its reactors require cooling systems and power supply to maintain safety conditions.
