31.05.2026 20:00
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe's largest nuclear facility under Russian control, has once again become the target of drone attacks. The International Atomic Energy Agency team, conducting on-site inspections, discovered damage to the turbine building. As inspections continued, the international team fled to shelters after new drone and gunfire sounds erupted at the facility. IAEA Director General Grossi warned, 'There is a risk of a nuclear accident; the attacks are unacceptable.'
A statement has been made by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regarding the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attack on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, which is under the control of the Russian army.
DAMAGE DETECTED ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE TURBINE BUILDING
The statement noted that the IAEA team at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant detected damage on the exterior of the turbine building that was hit by a UAV attack yesterday.
During the on-site inspection, it was determined that a metal platform located several floors above the building had been damaged, and information was shared that several pieces of debris and charred fiber optic remains were also detected.
GUNFIRE OPENED DURING INSPECTION OF THE FACILITY
The statement also indicated that the IAEA requested access to the interior of the building for a more detailed inspection.
It was reported that during the inspection of the facility, the IAEA team was warned to go to shelters after hearing nearby UAVs and gunfire opened against them, while radiation at the site was noted to be at normal levels.
“UNACCEPTABLE”
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, whose views were included in the statement, noted that yesterday's attack was a serious incident jeopardizing fundamental nuclear safety principles.
Grossi emphasized that attacks on nuclear facilities are unacceptable and that such attacks must be stopped to prevent the risk of a nuclear accident.
ROSATOM HAD ANNOUNCED
Alexey Likhachev, Director General of the Russian State Nuclear Energy Corporation Rosatom, stated in his announcement yesterday that a Ukrainian UAV struck a power unit at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
Likhachev, stating that an explosion occurred after the attack, reported, "The UAV hit the turbine building of the power unit at the plant. As a result of the explosion, the main equipment was not damaged, but a hole was created in the wall of the turbine hall."
UNDER RUSSIAN CONTROL SINCE 2022
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is Europe's largest nuclear power plant. The Russian army took control of the plant in March 2022, after the start of the war in Ukraine.