Experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stationed at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) have reported that an unidentified drone hit the roof of the plant’s training center. The Russian-installed administration is not allowing the IAEA access to inspect the building.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said this in a statement, according to Ukrinform.
“It was the third time this year that the training center, located just outside the site perimeter, was reportedly targeted by such an unmanned aerial vehicle,” the statement read.
Citing unnamed plant officials (likely from the Russian side), the IAEA noted that the drone hit the roof of the training center, without causing any casualties or major damage. However, it was not immediately known whether the drone had directly struck the building or whether it crashed on the structure after being shot down. The IAEA staff members heard the gunfire shortly before 10am local time, but it was not clear if this observation was connected to the drone.
“The IAEA team requested to visit the training center, as it was able to do following the previous such incident that occurred in April. However, on this occasion permission has not yet been granted,” the agency said.
Grossi described repeated drone activity near nuclear facilities as “very concerning,” warning that such incidents could pose a direct threat to nuclear safety and security.
“To put it simply: there are too many drones flying near nuclear sites, not just the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. It should stop immediately,” he said.
The IAEA also recalled that in mid-April, a drone was reportedly shot down and crashed near the ZNPP’s training center, just over three months after another reported drone attack on the same center.
Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) – Khmelnytskyi, Rivne and South Ukraine – also regularly report of drones being detected near the respective sites. Last Friday, the IAEA team at the South Ukraine NPP was informed that drones were observed as close as 2km from the site and the team reported hearing anti-aircraft fire from their hotel. The same night, drones were reported to have been observed transiting through the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone.
Photo: bbc.com
Source: IAEA reports drone attack on training center at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant
