IAEA Confirms Drone Attack at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

Kyiv. The United Nations nuclear agency (IAEA) has confirmed a drone attack at the southern Ukrainian Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is under Russian control.

The Vienna-based agency wrote on social media, "Our team stationed at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) has found damage to the exterior of the turbine building. The team's inspection indicates that the damage was caused by a drone attack. However, radiation levels at and around the power plant remain normal."

This nuclear plant, considered Europe's largest, was captured by Russian forces in the early days of the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Moscow and Kyiv have repeatedly accused each other of attacks in the area, citing the risk of a nuclear accident.

Russia's state nuclear company 'Rosatom' has accused Ukraine of deliberately carrying out the attack using a drone controlled by a 'fiber optic cable'.

Alexei Likhachev, CEO of Rosatom, warned that this incident could have serious consequences for people living far from the Russian-Ukrainian border.

On the other hand, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has issued a statement refuting Russia's accusation. The statement said, "Ukraine cannot attack a nuclear plant on its own territory, which it is trying to regain control of. This claim by Russia is just another attempt to spread rumors."