Security at Ukraine's Zaporizhia nuclear plant is deteriorating following a drone attack that hit a perimeter access road on Saturday, according to the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi.
Russian management at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant said a Ukrainian drone dropped an explosive charge on a road used by staff. Appraisal The news agency reported earlier.
Russia has been in control of the Zaporizhia plant, Europe's largest nuclear power plant, since shortly after launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The plant is idle because Moscow and kyiv have repeatedly accused each other of trying to sabotage its operations and endanger safety at the plant.
“Once again we see an escalation of the dangers to nuclear safety and security facing the […] “power plant,” Grossi said.
“I remain deeply concerned and reiterate my call for maximum restraint on the part of all parties and strict adherence to the five specific principles established for the protection of the plant.”
The impact site was close to essential cooling water spray ponds and about 100 meters from the Dniprovska power line, the only remaining 750 KV line supplying power to the plant, the IAEA said.
An IAEA team visited the area on Saturday and reported that the damage appeared to have been caused by a drone equipped with an explosive charge.
The report says there were no casualties or damage to any equipment at the nuclear power plant. However, there was an impact on the road between the two main gates of the plant.
The attack comes as Ukraine continues an incursion into Russia, claiming to have taken control of 82 settlements in an area of 1,150 square kilometers (444 square miles) in the Kursk region since August 6.
Moscow wants to discuss the attack on the Zaporizhia plant with the IAEA, the Russian intelligence agency ESTUARY This was reported by the Russian news agency, citing Roman Ustinov, Russia's acting representative in Vienna.
