Russia Claims Ukrainian Drone Struck Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant; Kyiv Denies, IAEA Demands Access
Russia's Rosatom says a Ukrainian drone hit the turbine hall of Europe's largest nuclear plant, leaving a hole in the wall but causing no radiation leak. Ukraine calls the accusation a 'propaganda ploy' as the IAEA pushes for an independent inspection.
The reported strike
Russia's state nuclear energy company Rosatom announced on Saturday that a Ukrainian kamikaze combat drone struck the turbine hall building of Power Unit No. 6 at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The plant, Europe's largest, has been under Russian control since March 2022 and sits close to the frontline in southeastern Ukraine. Rosatom chief Alexei Likhachev described the incident as 'deliberate' and said the subsequent detonation tore a hole in the turbine hall wall but caused no damage to primary equipment.
This afternoon, a Ukrainian kamikaze combat drone struck the turbine hall building of Power Unit No. 6, resulting in a subsequent detonation.
Likhachev warned that the world is one step closer to an incident that would affect people far beyond the borders of Russia and Ukraine. The plant management, installed by Moscow, stated that all systems are functioning normally, background radiation levels remain within natural limits, and the situation is completely under control.
Ukraine's denial
Ukraine's military categorically rejected the accusations, calling them 'yet another propaganda ploy.' In an official statement, Kyiv's forces said they act strictly within international humanitarian law and are fully aware of the consequences of any actions targeting nuclear facilities. The Ukrainian military added that at the relevant section of the frontline, there was no active fighting during the incident and no weapons were used.
Ukrainian servicemen act strictly within the international humanitarian law and are fully aware of the consequences of any actions targeting nuclear facilities.
Ukraine's Southern Defense Forces further argued that the Russian scenario does not withstand basic technical scrutiny, noting the plant is approximately 50 kilometers from the active frontline and the nearest Ukrainian-controlled city, Nikopol, is over 10 kilometers away on the opposite bank of the former Kakhovka reservoir.
IAEA demands access
The International Atomic Energy Agency was informed of the reported strike by the Russian-installed plant management and immediately requested access to the affected turbine building for a first-hand examination. As of the latest reports, that access had not yet been granted, meaning IAEA experts cannot confirm whether the incident occurred or assess the extent of any damage.
Attacking nuclear sites is like playing with fire.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi expressed deep concern, emphasizing that any attack on or from the nuclear plant violates both the seven indispensable pillars of nuclear safety during conflict and the five concrete principles established specifically for protecting the Zaporizhzhia facility. The agency noted this would be the first reported drone attack within the plant's perimeter since a similar incident in April 2024.
The plant's precarious state
Zaporizhzhia has a capacity of nearly 6,000 megawatts with six reactors, all of which have been shut down for safety since coming under Russian control. The plant has not generated electricity for years; only the systems necessary to cool the reactors remain operational. Due to shelling — for which Russia and Ukraine blame each other — the facility has suffered repeated power supply cuts. The main power line has not been repaired since 2025 because repairs require a ceasefire in the area.
- Russian forces capture the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in the early weeks of the full-scale invasion.
- First reported drone attack within the plant's perimeter, according to the IAEA.
- The plant's main power line fails and cannot be repaired due to the absence of a ceasefire in the area.
- Rosatom reports a Ukrainian drone strike on the turbine hall of Power Unit No. 6; IAEA requests access to inspect the damage.
Escalating nuclear rhetoric
Likhachev's statement framed the alleged drone strike as a dangerous escalation, claiming it was the first attack directed at the plant's main equipment that caused an explosion penetrating completely through the turbine building. He warned that many still do not take attacks on nuclear plants seriously, despite the potential for consequences reaching far beyond the war zone. The IAEA pledged to provide further information once its inspectors gain access and can conduct independent verification.
