IAEA says reactor containment damaged at Zaporizhzhia NPP after drone strike

He shared the information on X.

"Today, for the first time since Nov 2022 and after I set out 5 basic principles to avoid a serious nuclear accident w/ radiological consequences, IAEA’s ISAMZ confirmed that at least 3 direct hits against ZNPP main reactor containment structures took place," Grossi wrote.
Earlier, the IAEA's Twitter account reported a drone detention on the plant’s territory.

The post says that IAEA experts at ZNPP were informed that a drone detonated on April 7.

"Such a detonation is consistent with IAEA observations," the statement said.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi commented: "I urge to refrain from actions that contradict the 5 IAEA principles and jeopardise nuclear safety."

The Russian news agency TASS, citing the station's press service, blamed the attack on the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

"The Armed Forces of Ukraine hit the dome of Unit 6 of Zaporizhzhia NPP, there were no critical damages or casualties, the plant's press service said." 

Later, Rosatom called on the IAEA and the European Union to "immediately respond to the escalating situation" around the power plant. 

According to them, on April 7, the Ukrainian Armed Forces allegedly carried out a series of attacks on the Zaporizhzhia NPP: "At 11:38 a.m., the attack hit the area adjacent to the canteen, injuring three people." Half an hour later, according to them, a drone allegedly attacked the cargo port area, and then allegedly the sixth power unit of the ZNPP.

"Before that, the Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked the territory of the plant on April 5. Hits by Ukrainian drones were recorded near the cargo port and the nitrogen-oxygen station," the statement said.

Ukraine's response

In a comment to Ukrainska Pravda, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine's Chief of Staff Andriy Yusov said that Ukraine was not involved in "any armed provocations on the territory of the ZNPP illegally occupied by Russia."

"The aggressor state is once again endangering the nuclear facility, civilians and the environment of the whole of Europe. Russian strikes, including simulation strikes, on the territory of the Ukrainian nuclear power plant, as well as the deployment of troops and weapons there, mining of ZNPP facilities have long been a well-known and constant criminal practice of the occupiers," Yusov said.

• On April 6, power engineers managed to power up the second power line of Zaporizhzhia NPP, which was under repair due to Russian artillery shelling.