A reported drone strike hit the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southern Ukraine has raised fresh fears over nuclear safety at Europe’s largest atomic facility. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi expressed “serious concern” following Moscow’s accusation that Ukrainian forces launched the drone, which allegedly struck a turbine building and punched a hole in its wall.
The agency said the incident, if confirmed, would mark the first drone attack within the plant’s perimeter since April 2024. Mr Grossi stressed that any attack on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) endangers the IAEA’s seven indispensable pillars for nuclear safety during armed conflict and its five concrete principles specifically protecting the site.
Those principles explicitly state there should be “no attack of any kind from or against” the plant. Mr Grossi warned: “Attacking nuclear sites is like playing with fire.”
The IAEA has requested immediate access to inspect the affected turbine building firsthand.
Russian forces seized the ZNPP in the early days of Moscow’s full-scale invasion in 2022. The facility, which sits roughly 30 miles from the nearest section of the front line, remains under Russian control.
Ukraine’s Southern Defence Forces firmly denied involvement, labelling the Russian claims as “nuclear terrorism” and information provocations designed to discredit Kyiv.
The Ukrainian military said it operates strictly within international humanitarian law and fully understands the risks of any action near nuclear facilities.
The Southern Defense Forces stated, “Reports circulated by occupation-controlled resources claiming that Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck facilities at the ZNPP are another attempt to discredit Ukraine and conceal Russia’s own criminal actions.”
They noted that Russian forces have militarised the site, deploying electronic warfare systems, weapons, and personnel within the restricted 5-kilometre zone around the plant.
Ukrainian officials also pointed out that Russia has not released high-quality photos or videos showing the alleged damage and claimed Ukrainian forces do not possess drones capable of inflicting the described impact.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry described the Russian allegations as “baseless accusations.”
The Zaporizhzhia plant has been a persistent flashpoint since its capture. Repeated incidents and military activity nearby have repeatedly triggered international alarm over potential nuclear catastrophe.
Mr Grossi’s latest intervention underscores the fragile nuclear safety situation at the site more than three years into the war. The IAEA continues monitoring the facility amid ongoing hostilities, but physical access and independent verification remain challenging.
The reported strike comes as the broader Russia-Ukraine conflict shows no signs of abating, with both sides trading accusations over attacks on critical infrastructure.