The UN’s nuclear watchdog expressed concerns on Saturday that safety at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine is worsening after a drone strike nearby. Earlier that day, Russia alleged that Ukraine had deployed an explosive device on a road close to the plant, currently under Russian control.
Since Russia seized the facility early in the conflict, the site has experienced numerous attacks, with both parties blaming each other. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) disclosed that their experts at the plant were alerted about an explosion near crucial infrastructure and conducted an immediate inspection. They discovered damage likely caused by a drone armed with explosives, which affected the road connecting the plant’s main gates.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi highlighted the growing risks to nuclear safety at the plant and reiterated his plea for all involved parties to exercise utmost restraint. The agency’s statement also noted a significant escalation in military actions around the plant over the last week, including close-range explosions and gunfire.
The ongoing conflict has led to fears of a severe nuclear incident. Just last weekend, Kyiv and Moscow accused each other following a fire at the plant’s cooling tower, which caused significant damage but did not pose an immediate nuclear threat.
According to the Vienna-based agency, IAEA experts have inspected the cooling tower and are seeking further access to evaluate the situation fully.
