IAEA demands access to Zaporizhzhia plant after disputed drone strike claims
The International Atomic Energy Agency has requested immediate access to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant following Russian claims of a Ukrainian drone attack, while Kyiv denies involvement and warns against the militarisation of nuclear infrastructure.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has formally requested access to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine to inspect a turbine building following reports of a drone strike. The UN nuclear watchdog confirmed it was informed by the plant’s current management, which is installed by Moscow, that a drone had struck the facility, reportedly leaving a hole in the wall of the turbine hall.
Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear energy company, stated that a Ukrainian kamikaze combat drone hit the turbine hall of Power Unit No. 6 on Saturday. Rosatom chief Alexei Likhachev described the incident as deliberate, noting that the explosion caused a subsequent detonation but resulted in no damage to primary equipment. He confirmed that the blast tore a hole in the turbine hall wall but insisted the core safety systems remained intact.
Ukraine’s military has firmly denied the accusation, characterising Moscow’s claims as a propaganda ploy. In a statement, Kyiv’s military emphasised that Ukrainian servicemen operate strictly within international humanitarian law and are fully aware of the consequences of targeting nuclear facilities. The statement added that there was no active fighting in the relevant section of the front line at the time of the incident and no weapons were used.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi expressed serious concern regarding the reported incident, warning that attacking nuclear sites is akin to playing with fire. The agency noted that this would be the first drone attack within the plant site’s perimeter since April 2024. An IAEA team currently stationed at the Zaporizhzhia plant has requested first-hand examination of the affected turbine building to verify the extent of the damage.
Zaporizhzhia is Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, with a capacity of nearly 6,000 megawatts and six reactors. All reactors at the facility have been shut down for safety reasons since Russian forces captured the site in March 2022. The plant has remained under the management of a Moscow-installed administration since the occupation, raising ongoing concerns about the safety and security of the site amidst the conflict.
