The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has issued a warning about the deteriorating safety conditions at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant following a drone strike near the facility on Saturday. The plant, which is the largest nuclear power facility in Europe, has been under Russian control since the early stages of the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The drone strike reportedly hit a perimeter access road used by the plant’s staff, coming within 100 meters of the Dniprovska power line, the only remaining 750-kilovolt line supplying power to the plant. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi expressed deep concern over the incident, emphasizing the increasing risks to nuclear safety. He reiterated his call for maximum restraint from both sides and adherence to the five principles established for the plant’s protection.
While the plant itself remains dormant, the ongoing conflict has led to repeated attacks in its vicinity, with both Russia and Ukraine accusing each other of endangering the facility. The IAEA confirmed that no casualties resulted from the strike and that no critical equipment was damaged, though the road between the plant’s two main gates was visibly affected.
The Zaporizhzhia plant’s safety has been a persistent concern due to its strategic location on the southern bank of the Dnipro River, about 50 kilometers southwest of the city of Zaporizhzhia.
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