Officials at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, under Russian control, reported an attack on Sunday by Ukrainian military drones. The strike included hitting the dome of the plant's sixth power unit. Fortunately, the authorities confirmed that there was no critical damage or casualties resulting from the attack. Radiation levels at the plant were also reported to be normal post the strikes.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was promptly informed of the drone strike. The agency's experts confirmed that the detonation was consistent with their observations. The head of the IAEA, Rafael Mariano Grossi, without assigning blame, emphasized the safety risks associated with such attacks. He urged all parties involved to adhere to the IAEA principles and avoid actions that could compromise nuclear safety.
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been a focal point amid the conflict since Russian troops entered Ukraine in 2022 and took control of the facility. The IAEA has repeatedly expressed concerns about the plant, which is Europe's largest, due to the looming threat of a potential nuclear disaster. Accusations of attacks on the plant have been exchanged between Ukraine and Russia, given its proximity to the front lines.
Although the plant's six reactors have been offline for months, it still requires power and qualified personnel to manage essential cooling systems and safety protocols.
In a separate incident on Sunday, three individuals sustained injuries in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine due to Russian shelling, as reported by regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov. Meanwhile, in Russia's Belgorod region bordering Ukraine, a tragic incident occurred where a young girl lost her life and four others were wounded when debris from a downed Ukrainian drone fell on a car carrying a family of six people, according to regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.
