The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, has warned of the grave risks associated with attacks on nuclear sites. This caution follows reports of a drone strike at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, a facility under Russian control.
IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi expressed significant concern about the incident reported over the weekend. If verified, it marks the first drone attack within the boundaries of Europe’s largest nuclear plant since April 2024. Russia has accused Ukraine of targeting the site, while Ukrainian authorities dismissed these claims as mere propaganda. Newsweek reached out to Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry for a statement.
Why It Matters
Ukrainian staff continue to operate the Zaporizhzhia plant, which is located near contentious front lines. There is frequent international concern about the risk of a nuclear accident due to ongoing conflict, with both Russia and Ukraine attributing blame to each other for threatening the plant’s safety.
Russian forces captured the site after seizing the nearby town of Enerhodar in March 2022, not long into Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The specter of a nuclear disaster looms over the nation, especially in light of the recent commemoration of the Chernobyl accident’s 40th anniversary. The Chernobyl disaster resulted in the immediate deaths of at least 30 people and exposed millions to radiation.
Claims and Inspections
Mikhail Ulyanov, a senior Russian representative in Vienna where the IAEA is headquartered, stated that U.N. experts were examining the site following the incident. The IAEA confirmed its request to access the plant.
Since February 2022, Zaporizhzhia has experienced multiple power disruptions. Although currently not operational, the plant requires off-site power to ensure safety. In March 2022, the IAEA established “seven indispensable pillars” to maintain nuclear safety in Ukraine amidst the conflict. These guidelines emphasize the necessity of preserving off-site power access at all Ukrainian nuclear facilities.
By May 2023, the U.N. agency proposed “five concrete principles,” including a prohibition on any attacks from or against the Zaporizhzhia plant, especially involving its reactors.