IAEA Chief Expresses Concern Over Drone Attack on Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant

Vienna (ANTARA) - Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi on Saturday (30 May) expressed serious concern regarding reports of a drone strike on a turbine building at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), warning that attacks on nuclear facilities are like playing with fire.

The IAEA stated it was informed by ZNPP that a drone hit one of the turbine buildings at the facility earlier that day, reportedly causing a hole in one of the building’s walls. The agency disclosed the incident in a social media post on X.

“There must be no attacks on or from nuclear facilities,” Grossi said, reiterating his call for restraint to avoid jeopardising nuclear safety and security.

He added that the IAEA team stationed at the plant has requested access to the damaged turbine building to assess the reported damage firsthand.

According to the IAEA, the incident marks the first drone attack inside the ZNPP perimeter since April 2024.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, one of Europe’s largest nuclear facilities, has been under Russian control since March 2022. Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the IAEA has repeatedly warned of risks posed by military activities around the site and called for protection of nuclear infrastructure.