Zaporizhzhia Plant Hit By Ukraine Drone, Says Russia; UN Watchdog Asks For Caution

Russia alleged on Sunday that a Ukrainian drone attack had hit the Moscow-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, while the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) advised caution.

Russian forces have taken Europe’s largest atomic plant, Zaporizhzhia, since the start of their 2022 Ukraine invasion.

The plant’s Moscow-controlled management announced, “The Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked the dome of the sixth power unit of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP)”.

It stated that there was no radioactive emission as a result of the strike.

Later on Sunday, the IAEA tweeted that its experts had confirmed the physical impact of drone attacks at ZNPP today, including at one of its six reactors.

IAEA head Rafael Grossi stated that at least three direct hits against ZNPP main reactor containment structures occurred.

“This cannot happen. I firmly appeal to military decision-makers to abstain from any action violating the basic principles that protect nuclear facilities” Grossi emphasized.

According to the IAEA, the damage at unit six did not jeopardize nuclear safety but cautioned that this is a serious incident with the potential to undermine (the) integrity of the reactor’s containment system.

Russia’s nuclear agency, ROSATOM, has asked the West and Grossi to categorically condemn the attempt to escalate the situation around the largest nuclear power plant in Europe.

“The drone struck the plant’s canteen, wounding three staff members, one of them severely”, it continued.

The IAEA announced late Sunday that one casualty had been reported.

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