(Reuters) – Security at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is deteriorating following a drone strike around the border access road on Saturday, according to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director-general Rafael Mariano Grossi.
Russian management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant said a Ukrainian plane dropped an explosive device on a road used by workers, TASS news agency reported earlier.
Russia has been in control of the Zaporizhzhia site, Europe's largest nuclear power plant, since shortly after it launched a full-scale attack on Ukraine in February 2022.
The plant is no longer operational as Moscow and Kyiv have repeatedly accused each other of trying to destroy its operation and endanger security in the area.
“We are currently seeing an increase in safety and security risks facing the () power plant,” Grossi said.
“I am still very concerned and I repeat my request for the utmost restraint on all sides and the strict observance of the five strict principles established to protect this institution.”
The impact site was close to important cooling water irrigation ponds and about 100 meters from the Dniprovska power line, the only remaining 750 kilovolt line that provides electricity to the plant, the IAEA said.
The IAEA team visited the area on Saturday and reported that the damage appears to have been caused by an explosive aircraft.
The report said there were no injuries and no impact on any nuclear power plants. However, there was an impact on the road between the two main gates of the plant.
The attack comes as Ukraine continues its incursion into Russia, claiming control of 82 settlements in an area of 1,150 square kilometers (444 square miles) in the Kursk region since August 6.
Moscow wants to discuss the attack on the Zaporizhzhia plant with the IAEA, Russian RIA reported, citing Roman Ustinov, Russia's acting representative in Vienna.
