Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Hit by Drone as Russia and Ukraine Trade Accusations

Drone attack hits Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Russian-occupied southern Ukraine. Russia accuses Ukraine of deliberately targeting the energy facility.

According to AFP, on Sunday (31 May 2026), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated via social media that the Russian-operated plant’s operator reported a drone struck the turbine building on Saturday, causing a hole in the wall.

‘Any attack on or from the power plant must be avoided,’ IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi was quoted as saying in the agency’s X post.

‘Attacking a nuclear site is like playing with fire,’ he added.

Russian media published statements from state nuclear corporation Rosatom accusing Ukraine of a deliberate attack. Rosatom claimed the drone was controlled via fibre optic cable, dismissing ‘the possibility of an accidental strike.’

‘Today, we are one step closer to an incident that could very well affect even those living far beyond the Russian and Ukrainian borders,’ Rosatom CEO Alexei Likachev told Russian media.

The attack created a hole in the machine room wall but did not damage core equipment.

Ukraine Denies Allegations

Ukraine has denied the accusations. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said the claims lack ‘logic.’

‘It is unclear why Ukraine would attack its own nuclear power plant located within its own territory, which it seeks to reclaim under its sovereign control,’ the ministry stated.

‘We regard this statement as another information operation by the occupying state,’ it added.

Russian authorities in occupied Zaporizhzhia accused Ukraine of an attack in April that allegedly killed a transport worker.

Located near the frontline in southern Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia is Europe’s largest nuclear power plant.

It is known that Russia and Ukraine have repeatedly accused each other of jeopardising a nuclear disaster through attacks since Kyiv was seized by Russian forces in 2022.