Russia reports Ukrainian drone strike near Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
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- Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant was hit by a drone strike that killed one nuclear specialist and wounded 17, mostly plant employees, according to Russian-installed management that called it one of the most serious incidents in the facility's history.
- Russia asserted on Tuesday that Ukraine launched the strike, while the IAEA confirmed staff members were hit at a bus stop but reported no nuclear safety or security damage.
- The IAEA called on military commanders to 'put an immediate stop to these unacceptable actions,' citing 'great risks to nuclear safety' at Europe's largest nuclear plant.
- The Zaporizhzhia plant has been under Russian control since being seized one month after the February 2022 invasion; its six reactors, capable of nearly six gigawatts, have all been shut down.
- The strike occurred ahead of a scheduled visit by IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi to assess nuclear safety at the facility.
- Hours later, Russia struck a thermal power plant in central Ukraine operated by DTEK, causing 'significant damage to equipment' — part of a campaign that has hit DTEK thermal plants 230 times since the war began.
Why it matters: The strike lands ahead of IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi's scheduled visit, leaving Europe's largest nuclear plant — six reactors, all shut down under Russian occupation since 2022 — at the center of a nuclear safety standoff. The IAEA confirmed no nuclear damage despite 18 reported casualties, creating competing Russian and international narratives ahead of Grossi's on-site assessment.
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