Ukraine, drone attack on Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Damage to the reactor – Time

One step away from the atomic abyss. The reactor casing of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, in southern Ukraine, was damaged by drones launched in recent hours in the war between Russia and Ukraine. The terrible announcement was made by the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi, who spoke of “at least three hits against the reactor” and of a “serious accident that endangered safety nuclear”. The attack on the plant, we read in a note from the IAEA, represents a clear violation of the five fundamental principles for the protection of the plant illustrated by Grossi to the United Nations Security Council in May last year.

On X, the IAEA however underlined that the damage to the Russian-controlled plant “did not compromise nuclear safety”. In any case «this is a serious escalation of nuclear safety risks that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant must face. Such reckless attacks significantly increase the risk of a major nuclear accident and must stop immediately,” Grossi said in a statement. Russia denies being responsible for the attack and accuses Ukraine of having carried out the raid with military drones, which also hit the dome of the sixth power unit of the plant. According to authorities at the plant, there was no damage or casualties and radiation levels at the plant were at normal levels after the attacks. But Kiev also denies being responsible.