The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant reported that a drone struck a turbine building Saturday and tore a hole in one of its walls, the International Atomic Energy Agency said, as Russia and Ukraine gave conflicting accounts of who was responsible.
The IAEA said it was informed by the Zaporizhzhia plant that the incident occurred May 30, 2026. The agency said its team at the site has requested access to inspect the affected building first-hand.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi expressed serious concern, saying the reported incident could endanger nuclear safety principles meant to protect the plant during the conflict.
“Attacking nuclear sites is like playing with fire,” Grossi said, according to the agency.
The IAEA said the reported incident would be the first drone attack inside the plant’s site perimeter since April 2024. The agency said it would provide updates after its team reports further details, if access to the site is granted.
Russia’s state nuclear energy company Rosatom accused Ukraine of carrying out the strike, DW reported. Rosatom chief Alexei Likhachev said a drone hit the turbine hall building of Power Unit No. 6 and caused an explosion that tore a hole in the wall but did not damage primary equipment.
Ukraine’s military denied attacking the site and called Russia’s claim “yet another propaganda ploy,” according to DW. The military said there was no active fighting in that section of the front line during the incident and that no weapons were used.
Zaporizhzhia is Europe’s largest nuclear power plant. Its six reactors have been shut down for safety since the site came under Russian control.
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