The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog has expressed alarm over attacks on nuclear sites, likening them to ‘playing with fire.’ This warning follows a reported drone strike at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, currently under Russian control. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has stated that Rafael Grossi, its chief, expressed ‘serious concern’ about the incident on Saturday.
If confirmed, this would mark the first drone attack inside the perimeter of Europe’s largest nuclear plant since April 2024. The warning came after Russia accused Ukraine of a deliberate attack on the facility, claims Kyiv dismissed as ‘propaganda.’
Newsweek has contacted Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry for comment.
Why It Matters
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, still managed by Ukrainian operators, remains close to the conflict’s front line. The risk of a nuclear accident persists, with exchanges of fire posing a significant threat. Each side, Russia and Ukraine, has accused the other of compromising the facility’s safety.
Russian forces took control of the Zaporizhzhia plant following the capture of the nearby town of Enerhodar in March 2022, shortly after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The specter of a nuclear disaster affects Ukraine deeply, especially as it recently marked the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl accident.
In the initial aftermath of Chernobyl, at least 30 people died, and millions were exposed to radiation. The site briefly fell under Russian control in early 2022.
Russia Claims Drone Struck Reactor Building
Mikhail Ulyanov, a senior Russian official in Vienna where the IAEA is headquartered, stated that U.N. agency experts were inspecting the Zaporizhzhia plant, according to Russia’s Tass state news agency. The IAEA has requested access to the plant amid ongoing tension.
The site lost off-site power over a dozen times since February 2022, including in December. Though not currently operational, it requires off-site power for safety.
In March 2022, the IAEA developed ‘seven indispensable pillars’ aimed at ensuring nuclear safety in Ukraine during the ongoing conflict. These include maintaining off-site power access at all Ukrainian nuclear sites. By May 2023, the U.N. proposed that both parties adhere to ‘five concrete principles,’ particularly prohibiting attacks from or against the Zaporizhzhia facility.
Leave a Reply