Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine suffered damage on Sunday due to a drone attack, as confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The agency labeled the incident as “serious” with the potential to compromise the integrity of the reactor’s containment system.
In a statement released by the IAEA, it emphasized that despite the damage inflicted on the Russian-controlled facility, nuclear safety remains intact.
Rafael Grossi, the director-general of the agency, disclosed that the drone attack targeted the main reactor containment, resulting in three direct hits. Tragically, one person lost their life in the assault.
Expressing concern over the attack, Grossi condemned it as a violation of fundamental principles safeguarding Europe’s largest nuclear power plant. He urged an immediate cessation of such reckless actions to avert the heightened risk of a major nuclear accident.
Russian authorities swiftly pointed fingers at the Ukrainian military, accusing them of orchestrating the attacks using “self-exploding” drones, as detailed in a statement shared on the Zaporizhzhia NPP’s official Telegram channel. The assault caused damage to a truck unloading food and inflicted another hit on the cargo port area of the facility.
Responding to the accusations, Ukraine refuted any involvement in the attack, as stated by Andriy Yusov, the spokesperson for the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda. Yusov emphasized the peril posed by such actions to the nuclear facility, civilians, and the environment across Europe.
While reports cannot independently verify the claims made by Russia or Ukraine, Grossi reiterated the imperative of refraining from any actions jeopardizing nuclear facilities’ safety. He emphasized the non-negotiable nature of protecting such critical infrastructure from military conflict.
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