IAEA demands access to Zaporizhzhia NPP engine room after claims of drone attack

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has requested access to inspect the machine room at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant following reports that a drone struck the building.

The IAEA reported this on social media.

It is noted that the agency received a report from the Zaporizhzhia NPP stating that a drone struck the turbine building on the plant’s premises, which allegedly caused a hole in its wall.

"The IAEA’s team at the ZNPP has requested access to examine the affected turbine building first-hand," the statement said.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi expressed serious concern over the reported incident, which jeopardizes both the seven irreplaceable pillars of nuclear safety during conflict and the five specific principles for the protection of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, which clearly state that “there should be no attack of any kind from or against the plant.”

“Attacking nuclear sites is like playing with fire,” Grossi said.

It is noted that this would be the first drone attack within the Zaporizhzhia NPP’s territory since April 2024. The IAEA will update this information once the IAEA team provides more detailed information after gaining the requested access to the incident site.

As a reminder, the day before, the aggressor state russia claimed that the Ukrainian side had allegedly attacked the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant with a drone, in response to which the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an official denial. Russia’s accusations are viewed as yet another disinformation campaign.