Russia's nuclear power corporation, Rosatom, alleged on Sunday that the Ukrainian military initiated a series of attacks targeting the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, which is under Russian control. According to Rosatom, three individuals sustained injuries, with one in serious condition, as a result of these attacks.
The incident prompted the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to call for an immediate cessation of such attacks. While both Russian officials and the IAEA confirmed that radiation levels remained normal and the damage was not severe, Rosatom urged global leaders to condemn the assault.
However, a Ukrainian intelligence official refuted any involvement from Kyiv, suggesting that the attacks were orchestrated by the Russian forces occupying the plant. Reuters was unable to independently verify the accounts provided by either side regarding the battlefield situation.
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, Europe's largest, has been a focal point of contention since the onset of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops. Both sides have accused each other of targeting the plant, situated near the front lines of the ongoing conflict, thereby risking a potential nuclear catastrophe.
According to Rosatom, the initial strike near a canteen area injured three staff members, followed by subsequent drone attacks targeting a cargo loading area and the dome of the sixth reactor. Rosatom vehemently condemned these attacks and urged immediate action from the IAEA and the European Union to address the safety threat posed.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova called for world leaders to denounce the incident as an act of "nuclear terrorism," criticizing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Western powers for allegedly allowing such attacks to persist.
In response, Andriy Usov, a spokesperson for Ukraine's HUR Main Intelligence Directorate, denied any involvement, attributing the strikes to Russian aggression and labeling them as criminal acts.
The IAEA, which has experts stationed at the site, reported on social media that there was one casualty and emphasized the seriousness of the incident, particularly its potential impact on the integrity of the reactor's containment system.
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant houses six Soviet-designed reactors and also stores spent nuclear fuel. While some reactors are in various stages of shutdown for maintenance or repairs, the plant remains a critical concern amid ongoing hostilities between Russia and Ukraine.
