IAEA Head Warns that Attack on Ukraine Nuclear Plant Raises Risk of Accident

The head of the U.N.’s atomic watchdog agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi, issued a grave warning on Sunday following a drone attack on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine. The attack, which targeted one of the plant’s six nuclear reactors, has significantly increased the risk of a major nuclear accident, according to Grossi.

Confirming at least three direct hits on the main reactor containment structures, Grossi emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating, “This cannot happen.” The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also confirmed the physical impact of the drone attacks at the plant, with one casualty reported.

Despite the damage to the plant’s sixth reactor, officials at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant assured that there was no critical damage or casualties, and radiation levels remained normal after the strikes. However, Russian state-owned nuclear agency Rosatom later reported that three people were wounded in the unprecedented series of drone attacks.

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has put the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant at risk, with both Ukraine and Russia accusing each other of attacking the facility. The plant’s reactors have been shut down for months, but concerns remain about the potential for a nuclear catastrophe.

As tensions escalate in the region, the IAEA continues to monitor the situation closely and urges all parties to refrain from actions that could jeopardize nuclear safety. The international community remains on high alert as the situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant unfolds.