A drone reportedly struck the laboratory at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Safety concerns have persisted at the power plant, the largest in Europe, since the onset of the conflict with Russia in 2022.
Following intense conflict, the power plant came under Russian control in March 2022, with numerous missile strikes occurring near the facility, leading to mutual accusations by both sides. The IAEA has now been informed that a drone targeted the External Radiation Control Laboratory of the plant.
Although no injuries have been reported, an investigation is underway to determine the extent of damage to the site. Rafael Grossi, the IAEA Director General, emphasized that any attack represents a potential “nuclear safety risk.”
In a statement, the IAEA mentioned that the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant informed them about the drone strike on its External Radiation Control Laboratory. The incident’s impact on the lab, situated outside the plant’s perimeter, is yet to be determined. The IAEA team on-site has requested access to the lab, reiterating the risks posed by attacks near nuclear facilities.
Recently, Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation disclosed that a drone strike by the Ukrainian Armed Forces resulted in the death of a driver last month. The Rosatom corporation confirmed the death of an employee at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant during the April 27 incident, labeling it as a “great tragedy” and emphasizing the threat such attacks pose to both individuals and overall security.
In response to the incident, the IAEA was informed that a drone strike near the plant led to the death of a driver at the transport workshop. Rosatom, the controlling entity of the plant post-capture by Russian forces, reported the death of an employee due to a strike by the Ukrainian Armed Forces at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant’s transport workshop.
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