Amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, concerns continue to mount over the safety and security of nuclear facilities operating near active conflict zones. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has warned of growing nuclear safety and security risks after a drone attack damaged emergency response infrastructure near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in southeastern Ukraine, Europe’s largest nuclear facility. The plant has been under Russian control since 2022.
According to the IAEA, a drone strike on 3 May hit the External Radiation Control Laboratory (ERCL), located around four kilometres from the plant. During a visit to the site, IAEA experts observed damage to meteorological equipment used to collect real-time environmental data in the event of a nuclear or radiological emergency. Officials said the equipment is currently non-operational.
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said the incident highlighted the dangers posed by ongoing military activity near nuclear facilities.
“These are examples of damage to nuclear emergency response equipment as a direct result of military activities,” Grossi said. “We cannot afford for the next damage to occur on essential nuclear safety equipment. I once again call on both sides to make all efforts to avoid military activities in the vicinity of nuclear facilities – wherever they are located”
The agency also reported that drones were detected over Enerhodar, where most ZNPP staff reside. One drone reportedly struck a building housing the plant’s off-site emergency centre on 5 May, shattering windows but causing no direct damage to the centre itself.
The IAEA team at the plant was additionally informed of drone attacks targeting the local Raduga electrical substation on 1 and 2 May, causing temporary power and water outages in Enerhodar.
At present, the ZNPP is operating with only one external power line after its main 750 kV Dniprovska line was disconnected on 24 March 2026. The plant is currently dependent on the 330 kV Ferosplavna-1 backup line for off-site electricity supply.
The IAEA said it is continuing talks with both Russia and Ukraine to establish a temporary localized ceasefire that would allow repairs to damaged power infrastructure linked to the nuclear facility.
Elsewhere in Ukraine, the IAEA said its teams monitoring nuclear safety had to shelter during air raid alerts at the Khmelnytskyy Nuclear Power Plant on 1 May after drones were detected nearby. At the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant site, multiple drones were reportedly detected within the monitoring zone over recent days.
The agency is also conducting inspections at 14 Ukrainian electrical substations considered critical for maintaining stable electricity supplies to nuclear power plants. Grossi stressed that reliable off-site power remains essential to preventing a nuclear accident during the ongoing war.
Separately, the IAEA confirmed it had completed a medical assistance mission to Ukraine, including visits to the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant and related medical facilities to support the physical and mental well-being of nuclear plant staff.