Drone strike hits Russia-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, IAEA cites local officials

What happened

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported on Saturday that a drone struck the turbine building of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, which is currently under Russian control, citing information from the plant's Russian-run operator. The impact reportedly created a hole in the building’s wall, although the plant's core equipment was not damaged according to Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear company.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure or battlefield claim should be read as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source. Zaporizhzhia is the largest nuclear facility in Europe and sits close to the active frontline in southern Ukraine. Since Russia seized control of the plant in 2022, both Moscow and Kyiv have accused each other of launching attacks that might cause a nuclear disaster. The incident has heightened concerns about nuclear safety in a war zone.

Rosatom accused Ukraine of carrying out a deliberate drone strike, stating that the drone was operated via a fibre-optic cable, which they said rules out accidental attack. Alexei Likachev, Rosatom’s CEO, warned that the attack brought the situation closer to a potentially far-reaching nuclear incident. Kyiv’s foreign ministry dismissed these allegations as illogical, asserting that Ukraine would have no reason to attack a nuclear plant on its own territory, which it aims to retake from Russian forces. Ukraine labeled the accusations a propaganda effort by the occupying power.

Known from the source

• A drone hit the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Russian-occupied southern Ukraine.
• The impact created a hole in the turbine building's wall but did not damage the core nuclear equipment.
• The IAEA communicated these facts citing local Russian-controlled operator reports.
• Rosatom accused Ukraine of deliberately striking the plant.
• Ukraine denied the accusations and called them illogical and propaganda.

What remains unclear

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi emphasized that nuclear sites should not be targets in the conflict, underlining the extreme risk involved. This incident adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing conflict, as the risk of nuclear damage could have regional and international consequences far beyond the immediate war zone.

What remains unclear: Whether the drone was indeed controlled via fibre-optic cable as claimed by Rosatom. Independent verification of damage extent and any potential impact on nuclear safety. Attribution of responsibility for the drone strike beyond claims by Rosatom and Ukraine. Verification of the absence of casualties related to this strike.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: The New Arab. Open the source.