On Tuesday, an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant reported hearing artillery shells landing just 400 meters from a key diesel fuel storage site, as plumes of black smoke rose nearby.
While there were no casualties or damage to equipment, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi warned that such incidents spotlight the ongoing threats to nuclear safety and security in conflict zones. 'The constant dangers to nuclear facilities cannot be overstated,' he said.
Zaporizhzhia, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, has been under Russian control since 2022. Although its six reactors remain shut down, the nuclear fuel still demands continuous cooling to prevent a meltdown.
Last week, regional authorities reported a Ukrainian drone attack above the site, and staff had previously documented two strikes near a training center adjacent to the reactors. Both Moscow and Kyiv have blamed each other for actions that could endanger nuclear safety.
The IAEA keeps permanent monitoring teams at Zaporizhzhia and Ukraine's three other nuclear plants, urging all parties to refrain from actions that could compromise the facility's integrity and regional security.
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IAEA says shelling reported near Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
cgtn.com
