NEW DELHI: Russia’s nuclear power corporation, Rosatom, has accused Ukraine’s military of launching attacks on the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station. The UN’s nuclear watchdog has called for an immediate halt to such incidents. According to Rosatom, three staff members were injured, with one in serious condition. Both Russian officials and the International Atomic Energy Agency have confirmed that radiation levels are normal and the damage is not severe.
However, a Ukrainian intelligence official has denied any involvement from Kyiv and suggested that the attacks may have been carried out by Russians themselves.
The Zaporizhzhia plant, the largest in Europe, was seized by Russian troops in the early stages of the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Accusations of attacks on the plant have been exchanged between both sides, raising concerns about the risk of a potential nuclear disaster.
Rosatom reported that the plant was hit by multiple strikes, including a drone attack on the sixth reactor’s dome. The corporation has strongly condemned the attacks and called for immediate action from the
IAEA and the European Union.
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova urged world leaders to condemn the ‘nuclear terrorism’ at the plant. She criticized the Ukrainian military and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for the repeated targeting of the facility.
In response, Ukraine’s HUR Main Intelligence Directorate spokesperson Andriy Usov denied any involvement and accused the Russians of staging attacks on the plant.
The IAEA, which has experts on-site, confirmed a single casualty and highlighted the seriousness of the incident. The agency’s chief, Rafael Grossi, expressed concern over the direct hits on critical structures at the plant.
The Zaporizhzhia plant houses six reactors with Soviet-designed technology and contains Uranium 235. While some reactors are in shutdown mode for maintenance, others remain operational. T
he incident has raised alarms about the safety and integrity of the plant’s containment system. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation to prevent any further escalation.