UN Warns of Dangers Following Reported Drone Strike at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant

The United Nations nuclear watchdog has issued a serious warning about attacks on nuclear sites, likening them to ‘playing with fire’. This follows reports of a drone strike at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, currently under Russian control.

Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), voiced his ‘serious concern’ regarding the incident reported on Saturday. If verified, this marks the first drone strike within the perimeter of Europe’s largest nuclear facility since April 2024.

Ukraine and Russia Point Fingers

The warning was issued after Russia accused Ukraine of intentionally targeting the plant. Ukraine dismissed the accusation, labeling it as a ‘propaganda ploy’. Newsweek is awaiting comments from Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry regarding the situation.

The Importance of Zaporizhzhia

The Zaporizhzhia site remains staffed by Ukrainian operators and is near the active front line, heightening concerns about a potential nuclear accident. Both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of endangering the facility, leading to repeated international alarms.

Russian forces captured the plant and the town of Enerhodar in March 2022, shortly after initiating a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The threat of a nuclear catastrophe looms large, especially as Ukraine recently marked the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

The Shadow of Chernobyl

Following the Chernobyl disaster, which claimed at least 30 lives immediately and exposed millions to radiation, Ukraine remains vigilant about nuclear safety. After briefly falling under Russian control in early 2022, the Chernobyl plant poses a lingering reminder of nuclear risks.

Russian Claims

Mikhail Ulyanov, a high-ranking Russian official in Vienna, announced that U.N. agency experts are examining the power plant in response to the alleged attack, as reported by Russia’s Tass state news agency. The IAEA has requested further access to Zaporizhzhia.

Status of Zaporizhzhia

Zaporizhzhia has experienced several disruptions to off-site power starting February 2022, including notable outages in mid-December. Though currently non-operational, maintaining off-site power is crucial for safety.

IAEA’s Safety Measures

In March 2022, the IAEA presented ‘seven indispensable pillars’ aiming to sustain nuclear safety in Ukraine amidst conflict. A key pillar demands unbroken access to off-site power at all nuclear facilities across Ukraine. In May 2023, the agency urged adherence to ‘five concrete principles’, emphasizing the prohibition of attacks involving the Zaporizhzhia plant, particularly near its reactors.