Russian forces have controlled the Zaporozhye facility since the start of their attack on Ukraine in 2022 (French)

Russia announced - yesterday, Sunday - that the Zaporozhye nuclear energy facility, which it has controlled for two years, was subjected to a Ukrainian drone attack, confirming that one of these drones exploded above one of the plant’s reactors, while Kiev denies its involvement in the attack.

The Russian administration of the Zaporozhye facility said on social media platforms that the Ukrainian armed forces launched an attack on the dome of reactor No. 6 at the facility, confirming that there was no radiation leakage as a result of the attack.

For its part, the International Atomic Energy Agency called on both parties to the conflict to refrain from any military action that threatens the security of the facility, and said that its experts confirmed the material effects of drone attacks on the Zaporozhye plant, including on one of its six reactors, without attributing these attacks to Ukraine. By name.

Agency Director Rafael Grossi said that there are at least 3 direct impacts on the station's main containment structures, and called on military decision-makers to refrain from any action that violates the basic principles that protect nuclear facilities.

For its part, the Russian Atomic Energy Agency (Rosatom) condemned the "escalation" and said it was "a dangerous incident that could undermine the safety of the reactor's containment structure." It called on the IAEA and European Union countries to issue a firm condemnation of the escalation around the largest nuclear power plant in Europe.

The agency explained that one of the drones hit the canteen of the nuclear facility, resulting in 3 wounded.

While the IAEA said that the attack left one wounded.

Kyiv denies

On the other hand, Ukrainian media quoted a Ukrainian intelligence official as saying on Sunday that Kiev had nothing to do with the incidents that occurred at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant.

Spokesman for the Main Directorate of Ukrainian intelligence, Andriy Yusov, told the online newspaper Ukrainska Pravda that Ukraine is not involved in any form of armed provocations at the Russian-occupied Zaporozhye station.

He added that the Russian strikes on the station are "a criminal practice known to the invaders for a long time."

Russian forces have been occupying the Zaporozhye facility since the start of their attack on Ukraine in 2022, and the station has become the focus of mutual accusations between the Russian and Ukrainian armies.

Source: Agencies