Russia alleges Ukrainian drone struck Zaporizhzhia nuclear plantZaporizhzhia nuclear plant
Russia said a Ukrainian drone struck the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southern Ukraine on Saturday, while Kyiv denied hitting the site. The International Atomic Energy Agency voiced concern about the reported incident, underscoring the risk to nuclear safety as both sides continue trading drone attacks across the war zone and deep inside Russia.
Russian Perspective
Rosatom said a Ukrainian drone hit the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and left a hole in a turbine hall wall. Russian officials described the wider drone campaign as an escalation against energy and industrial targets.
Ukrainian Perspective
Kyiv denied striking the plant and called the Russian claim a propaganda ploy. Ukrainian military officials said they do not target nuclear facilities and act within international humanitarian law.
IAEA Perspective
Director General Rafael Grossi said he was seriously concerned about the reported strike. The agency stressed that nuclear sites should not be attacked from either side during the conflict.
- Zaporizhzhia sits on the Dnipro River, a major transport and energy corridor in southern Ukraine.
- Nuclear plants are designed with multiple safety barriers, but war can still disrupt cooling, power, and operations.
- The IAEA has maintained a permanent presence at Zaporizhzhia since 2022.
Russia-Ukraine War
Russia and Ukraine are locked in an retaliatory long-range drone and missile war that now strikes deep into both countries, including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Crimea, and major Ukrainian cities like Kyiv and Dnipro. Ukrainian forces launched one of their largest drone attacks on June 26, striking 12 Russian regions and hitting key energy targets, while Russia continues massive retaliatory bombardments that kill civilians and destroy infrastructure.
26 June, 09:41 AM
Ukraine unleashes massive drone bombardment on 12 Russian regions24 June, 10:31 AM
Ukrainian drones knock out power in Russian-held Sevastopol22 June, 03:20 PM
Ukraine strikes Russian missile electronics plant in Voronezh
