Rosatom says drone hit Zaporizhzhia plant; Kyiv denies
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- Rosatom said a Ukrainian drone struck the turbine hall of Unit 6 at the Russian‑controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, leaving a hole in the wall but no damage to primary equipment.
- Alexei Likhachev described the incident as “deliberate” and reported a subsequent detonation in the turbine hall.
- Ukrainian military denied the claim, labeling it propaganda and saying Ukrainian troops did not strike Power Unit No. 6.
- Ukrainian military added that there was no active fighting or weapons used at the front‑line section where the incident supposedly occurred.
- Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant – captured by Russia in March 2022 and close to the frontline – has previously been hit by fire, sparking concerns about a possible nuclear accident.
Why it matters: The clash of narratives over a alleged drone strike at Europe’s biggest nuclear plant heightens concerns about nuclear safety near the front line, where the plant has already been hit by fire, and puts pressure on Kyiv to prove compliance with humanitarian law while Russia seeks to portray Ukrainian aggression.
