The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that its team stationed at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) observed damage to the exterior of a turbine building following a reported drone strike.
During a site inspection on Monday, the IAEA experts documented impact damage to a metal access hatch located several levels up the building’s exterior, as well as debris and charred remains of optical fiber on the ground. The agency stated that its observations are consistent with the impact of a drone.
The agency noted that these findings are consistent with the impact of a drone. This incident, which reportedly occurred yesterday, has prompted renewed international concern regarding the safety of Europe’s largest nuclear facility, which has remained under the military control of the Russian Federation since March 2022.
In response to the event, the IAEA has formally requested access to the interior of the turbine building, which is positioned immediately adjacent to Reactor Unit 6, to conduct a more thorough examination of the damage.
During the inspection process, the agency’s team was forced to take cover after hearing nearby drone activity and gunfire directed toward their position. Despite the volatile security environment, the IAEA confirmed that radiation levels at the site remained within normal ranges.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi described the incident as a serious development that threatens the core principles of nuclear safety. He reiterated that attacks on nuclear sites must stop, warning that such actions increase the risk of a nuclear accident that would serve no one’s interests.
The incident has sparked a diplomatic dispute, with Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom alleging that a Ukrainian combat drone deliberately struck the facility. Conversely, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has firmly rejected these accusations, dismissing them as unfounded and part of an ongoing disinformation campaign.