A senior Ukrainian official has refuted Russian claims that Ukraine's army launched exploding drones at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which has been under Russian occupation since the onset of the conflict over two years ago. The spokesperson for Ukraine's military intelligence agency dismissed the allegations, stating that Russian forces often fabricate attacks on the plant.
Despite the denial, the U.N.'s atomic watchdog agency confirmed drone strikes on one of the plant's reactors, resulting in one casualty. The International Atomic Energy Agency expressed concern about the incident, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the plant's nuclear safety.
Although the plant's reactors have been offline for several months, it still requires power and qualified personnel to operate essential cooling systems and safety mechanisms. The IAEA team reported superficial damage to the top of a reactor dome but noted that the critical safety components remained intact.
IAEA chief Rafael Mariano Grossi condemned the attack, highlighting the direct hits on the main reactor containment structures. The Institute for the Study of War suggested that Russia's control over the plant aims to legitimize its occupation of Ukrainian territory.
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been a focal point of the conflict since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The plant, located in one of the regions annexed by Russia, continues to face security challenges amid the ongoing hostilities.
For more updates on the situation in Ukraine, visit AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine.
