The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Monday (4 May) that meteorological monitoring equipment at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in south-eastern Ukraine had been damaged by a drone.
The facility is Europe’s largest nuclear power station, with six reactors. It was seized by Russian forces in the early stages of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Since then, both sides have repeatedly accused each other of carrying out attacks that could endanger safety at the site, which lies close to the front line.
In a post on X, the IAEA said its experts had visited the plant’s External Radiation Control Laboratory (ERCL), one day after the Russian-installed management reported a drone strike.
“Team observed damage to some of the lab’s meteorological monitoring equipment which is no longer operational,” the agency said.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi renewed calls for caution. According to the agency, he issued a new appeal “for maximum military restraint near all nuclear facilities to avoid safety risks”.
The plant is not currently producing electricity. It has been targeted by drones on several occasions since the conflict began. Management said on Sunday (3 May) that the latest damage was minor and that operations were otherwise unaffected.
One of the station’s external power lines, which is needed to keep nuclear fuel cool, has been out of service since late March. The IAEA said last week it was seeking to arrange a local ceasefire to allow repair work to take place.
Grossi has visited the site several times since it came under Russian control. The IAEA also maintains a permanent presence at Zaporizhzhia, as well as at Ukraine’s three other operational nuclear power plants.
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