Ukrainian drone strikes Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, escalating nuclear safety fears
A Ukrainian drone strike has hit the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, damaging part of the turbine hall wall and escalating fears of a potential nuclear incident. Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom reported the attack on Saturday, stating the drone caused structural damage to the facility—the largest nuclear plant in Europe—though it did not compromise critical equipment. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed the strike and demanded immediate access to the turbine hall for inspection .
Ukraine has vehemently denied responsibility, calling the accusation a "propaganda attempt" and asserting that its forces have not targeted the plant. Kyiv instead accused Russia of staging the attack to justify further aggression . The IAEA, which maintains a presence at the site, has not independently verified the origin of the drone but warned that any attack on nuclear facilities risks catastrophic consequences. The agency’s director general, Rafael Grossi, reiterated calls for restraint, emphasizing that "playing with fire at a nuclear site is reckless" .
The Zaporizhzhia plant, seized by Russian forces in March 2022, has been a flashpoint throughout the war. Previous shelling near the facility has raised alarms about radiation leaks, though no major incidents have occurred. The latest strike comes amid intensified Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, including strikes on oil depots and power plants in occupied territories . The IAEA’s request to inspect the turbine hall underscores the urgency of assessing the damage, as the plant’s six reactors remain in a precarious state of cold shutdown .
With both sides trading blame and the IAEA’s access restricted, the incident heightens concerns about the plant’s safety. The UN has repeatedly warned that any military action near Zaporizhzhia could trigger a disaster comparable to Chernobyl, a risk that grows as the war grinds on.
Ukrainian drone strikes Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, escalating nuclear safety fears
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Articles
Guerre en Ukraine : un drone frappe (encore) la centrale nucléaire de Zaporijia Un bâtiment de la centrale a été touché samedi, laissant un trou dans un mur sans a priori avoir endommagé déquipements essentiels. La Russie et lUkraine saccusent mutuellement den être responsable.
liberation · 7 days ago
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digi24 · 7 days ago
Russia says Ukrainian drone struck Zaporizhzhia plant turbine hall Russias state nuclear corporation Rosatom said on Saturday that a Ukrainian combat drone struck the turbine hall at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, causing structural damage and prompting fresh warnings from the corporations chief about the risk of a serious nuclear incident.
yenisafak · 7 days ago
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