The UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, said yesterday that employees of the Ukrainian Zaporozhye NPP, controlled by Russia, have reported a new attempted drone attack on the facility's training center, less than two weeks after other similar incidents, Reuters reported, citing BTA.
Russian-appointed officials at the plant, which is Europe's largest nuclear facility, said Ukraine was behind the latest incident.
Russian forces occupied the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in the first weeks after invading Ukraine in February 2022, since then Moscow and Kiev have repeatedly traded accusations of attacking the site.
Raphael Grossi, Director General of the IAEA, warned that the attacks and the resulting incidents at this nuclear power plant were "reckless" and could cause a major nuclear accident.
Grossi said the latest incident caused no damage or injuries. IAEA monitors stationed at the power plant heard an explosion at the same time as the Russian-appointed team reported an attempted attack by a Ukrainian drone.
„If confirmed, this would be an extremely worrying development,", Grossi said.
„Whoever is behind these incidents appears to be ignoring the international community's repeated calls for maximum military restraint to prevent the very real threat of a serious nuclear accident”. Grossi said that for security reasons, IAEA observers were denied access to the training center where the incident allegedly took place.
Kiev has denied any connection to previous incidents and suggested the Russians may have orchestrated them.
Russian-appointed officials at the nuclear power plant said the drone was destroyed over the roof of the building and there were no injuries or damage.