Nuclear safety not compromised by drone attacks at Zaporizhzhia: IAEA

VIENNA -- Drone attacks at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) on Sunday caused damage to one of its six power units, but nuclear safety has not been compromised, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) 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 United Nations nuclear watchdog said, adding that one casualty was reported in the attacks.

The IAEA said on social media platform X that its experts "confirmed physical impact of drone attacks at ZNPP today, including at one of its six reactors."

In a separate statement, IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi said on X that the agency's experts stationed at the ZNPP confirmed that "at least three direct hits against ZNPP main reactor containment structures" took place earlier in the day.

"Such reckless attacks significantly increase the risk of a major nuclear accident and must cease immediately," Grossi said, calling on "military decision-makers to abstain from any action violating the basic principles that protect nuclear facilities."

The ZNPP is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe with a total capacity of 6 gigawatts. At the end of February 2022, the facility was taken under Russian control.