Russia today accused Ukraine of endangering European nuclear security by attacking the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant with a drone that was shot down over a reactor.
Ukraine has denied involvement in a series of drone strikes on the plant over the past 48 hours, including three strikes on Sunday that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said put nuclear safety at risk.
The plant, operated by a unit of Russian state nuclear company Rosatom, reported that Ukrainian armed forces attacked the plant this Monday with a “kamikaze drone”, which was shot down over the plant and fell on the roof of reactor No. 6.
“It is dangerous, not only for the station, but also for the surrounding territory and potentially for all of humanity,” Yuri Chernichuk, the Russia-based director of the nuclear plant, told Reuters. “No nuclear reactor was designed to be at the center of combat,” he added, quoted by Reuters.
Rosatom said Ukraine attacked the plant three times on Sunday with drones, first injuring three people near a canteen, then attacking a loading area and finally hitting the dome over reactor No. 6.
The Kremlin has condemned these Ukrainian drone strikes as extremely dangerous, with potentially serious consequences. In turn, a Ukrainian intelligence official denied any Kiev involvement in the attacks, suggesting they were carried out by Russian forces themselves.
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has six Soviet-designed, water-cooled and water-moderated VVER-1000 V-320 reactors containing uranium 235.
The IAEA confirmed three drone attacks on Sunday, without assigning blame, but warned of the great risk of a nuclear accident and demanded an immediate cessation of these attacks.
Russian forces took control of the plant in 2022, following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Both Moscow and Kiev have repeatedly accused each other of endangering nuclear security by attacking the plant. Reuters could not immediately verify reports from either side.
