Key Takeaways
- Ukraine denied involvement in drone attacks on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, sparking concerns over nuclear safety and terrorism.
- The ZNPP was attacked by Ukrainian drones, causing damage to one of its power units.
- The IAEA said that damage at unit 6 has not compromised nuclear safety, but this is a serious incident with potential to undermine the integrity of the reactor’s containment system.
Kiev: Ukraine on Sunday denied the accusation of Kiev’s involvement in drone attacks on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP).
“Ukraine is not involved in any armed provocations on the territory of the ZNPP,” Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for Ukraine’s military intelligence, was quoted as saying by the press service of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.
Ukrainian drones attacked the ZNPP on Sunday, including one on the dome of the 6th power unit, according to the plant’s press service.
The ZNPP reported that the attack on the dome had not caused any critical injuries or casualties. However, there were concerns about the potential for safety limits to be violated.
Drone attacks at the ZNPP on Sunday caused damage to one of its six power units, but nuclear safety has not been compromised, the International Atomic Energy Agency said Sunday night.
“Damage at unit 6 has not compromised nuclear safety, but this is a serious incident with potential to undermine integrity of the reactor’s containment system,” the UN nuclear watchdog said, adding that one casualty was reported in the attacks.
The international community must respond to Ukraine’s recent drone attack on the ZNPP, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova was quoted by Russia’s Sputnik news agency as saying on Sunday, calling the attack “an act of nuclear terrorism.”
The ZNPP is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe and includes six power units with a total capacity of 6 gigawatts.
