Representatives of the occupation administration of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant stated that the drone was “neutralized”, but did not allow the IAEA commission to the scene of the incident.
At about 10-11 am on April 18, the training center of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) was attacked by an unknown unmanned aerial vehicle. This is the third case in the last two weeks. This was reported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
“The IAEA has been informed of another attempted drone attack on the training center of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, which occurred today but did not result in damage or casualties,” said the agency’s director general, Rafael Mariano Grosi.
Representatives from Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant told the IAEA team at the site that today’s drone was “neutralized” but did not provide other details.
“The IAEA team heard an explosion at the same hour local time, 10:35 a.m., when Zaporizhia NPP reported an attempted drone attack,” the report said.
The agency clarified that this is the third attack on a training center recently, after two similar incidents that occurred last week.
Important
“Close to a nuclear accident”: the IAEA expressed concerns about the situation at the Zaporizhia NPP
“The team was denied access to the training center located outside the perimeter of the Zaporizhia NPP site to assess the incident, citing potential safety risks,” the IAEA noted.
Rafael Mariano Grosi also noted that whoever is behind these incidents appears to be ignoring the international community’s repeated calls for maximum military restraint.
“Until now, drone strikes have not jeopardized nuclear safety at the site. Our presence at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant is more necessary than ever. As I have already informed the Security Council, we are dangerously close to a nuclear accident. This month’s drone attacks were the first clear violation of five specific principles for the protection of the site that I established at a Security Council meeting almost a year ago,” Grossi added.
The IAEA noted that despite the fact that all Zaporozhye NPP reactors are now in a state of cold shutdown, nuclear safety and nuclear security remain fragile.
Let us remind you that on April 7, an explosion occurred in the territory of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant captured by Russian occupation forces – a drone detonated. Representatives of the IAEA witnessed the incident. The Russians blamed Ukraine for the attack.
On April 8, Kremlin representatives said that the station was attacked by drones, and the IAEA confirmed that there was allegedly some kind of threat to the station. At the same time, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense said that Russia had previously carried out similar simulated strikes, the main goal of which was to compromise Ukraine.
On April 15, experts from the American Institute for the Study of War noted in their report that Russia intends to create another provocation at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant in order to “provoke negotiations with international organizations and legitimize the occupation” of the station.
