“A serious incident”
Nuclear authority confirms drone attacks on Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant
April 7, 2024, 11:04 p.m
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The Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine has been occupied by Russian troops since 2022. The work is repeatedly attacked. Now there are several drone attacks. However, the International Atomic Energy Agency has given the all-clear regarding nuclear safety.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported drone attacks on the Russian-occupied Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine. The protective cover of the sixth reactor was hit three times, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said on the social network X. According to the IAEA, nuclear safety was not at risk. Nevertheless, “this is a serious incident that had the potential to violate the integrity of the reactor protective envelope,” warned the IAEA, which has a team of observers permanently on site.
According to Grossi, this was the first time the power plant was directly hit since November 2022. “This cannot be allowed to happen,” he wrote. Nobody can gain military or political benefit from attacks against nuclear facilities. The Russian power plant management reported that a drone exploded over the dome of the sixth reactor. On its Telegram channel, the factory management blamed the Ukrainian army for the attack. But there was no dangerous damage, it said. The radiation in and around the largest nuclear power plant in Europe corresponds to the norm.
According to Russian information, a drone hit the nuclear power plant’s canteen earlier on Sunday. A truck that was being unloaded was damaged. According to the Russian nuclear company Rosatom, three employees were injured. The IAEA, however, had information about a victim. The information provided by the Russian side could not be verified. She has been complaining for days about increasing drone attacks on the plant and blames Ukraine for them.
The nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine was occupied by Russian troops in spring 2022. The six reactors are idle, but still need to be cooled. The factory was repeatedly bombarded. The international public is concerned about nuclear safety.