IAEA concerned after Russia claims Ukraine attacked nuclear plant; says that attacking Zaporozhye is like playing with fire

Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), expressed “serious concern” on Saturday (local time) after Russia accused Ukraine of launching a drone attack on the Moscow-occupied Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in southern Ukraine, an allegation denied by Kyiv.

In a statement released on X, the IAEA said the incident would be the first drone attack on the plant’s perimeter since April 2024. The ZNPP was captured by Russian forces in the early days of Moscow’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, ABC News reported. The facility now lies roughly 30 miles from the nearest part of the front line.

The agency added: “The IAEA has been informed by ZNPP that a drone struck a turbine building at the site today, reportedly causing a hole in its wall.”

IAEA chief expresses concern

Grossi expressed grave concern over the reported incident, which would “jeopardize both the seven indispensable pillars for ensuring nuclear security during conflict, as well as the five specific safeguards of the IAEA, which clearly state that ‘there should be no attack of any kind from or against’ the plant,” the statement said.

He warned that attacking a nuclear site was like playing with fire, adding that the agency had requested “first-hand access to examine the stricken turbine building.”

Ukraine denies attacks on ZNPP, accuses Moscow of nuclear terrorism

Ukraine’s Southern Defense Forces, the military group that oversees the southern front, rejected the allegations made by Russia, accusing Moscow of engaging in “nuclear terrorism”.

The group said in a statement: “The Russian Federation continues to use the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant as a tool of nuclear blackmail and information provocations. Reports by occupation-controlled sources claiming that Ukrainian defense forces have struck facilities at ZNPP are another attempt to discredit Ukraine and cover up Russia’s own criminal actions.”

The group also added that Ukrainian service members operate strictly within the norms of international humanitarian law and “fully understand the consequences of any actions involving nuclear facilities.”

The group criticized Russia for its illegal occupation of the ZNPP, noting that Moscow has maintained military control over the plant since March 2022, turning a civilian nuclear facility into an element of military infrastructure. The force also accused Moscow of violating restrictions on the deployment of military assets in a five-kilometer zone around the ZNPP.

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Kyiv attacked Russian energy targets overnight

The accusations came after Ukraine launched new strikes targeting Russian energy sites overnight. The AP news agency reported that Ukrainian drones had struck the Saratov oil refinery in southwestern Russia, causing a “massive fire.” The Kiev General Staff said the extent of the damage was not yet clear, adding that the refinery supplies Moscow’s war effort.

In recent months, Kiev has stepped up its attacks on Moscow’s oil and gas facilities, arguing that the energy sector is both funding and directly supporting Moscow’s more than four-year-old invasion.

Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed on Sunday that its forces were behind the strike on the facility in the city of Matveev Kurgan. Local authorities said the drone strike at the warehouse caused a large fire in a wide area.

Ukraine also hit the Lazarevo gas station in Russia’s Kirov region northeast of Moscow, more than 1,200 kilometers (745 miles) from Ukrainian territory, according to its general staff. The station helps transport Russian oil from Siberia to Belarus.

The latest exchange of accusations underscores the lingering risks to nuclear security and the broader escalation of hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, with no end to the war in sight.

Key things

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to escalate, with significant implications for nuclear security.
The IAEA emphasizes the critical need to protect nuclear facilities during armed conflict.
The accusations from both sides reflect a disturbing trend in military operations involving nuclear infrastructure.