The Zaporizhzhia nuclear station, under Russian control, was struck by Ukraine, according to the administration installed by Russia at the plant. The specifics of the weapon used in Sunday’s attack were not immediately disclosed. Following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian forces took control of the plant. The Russian state-owned nuclear agency Rosatom reported that the site had been targeted by a drone attack.
Officials from the nuclear plant confirmed that radiation levels remained normal and there was no significant damage following the attack. However, Rosatom later stated that three individuals were injured, specifically in a drone strike near the plant's canteen. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), with experts present at the site, confirmed receiving information from the Russian-operated plant indicating a drone detonation, which aligned with the IAEA's own observations. Director General Rafael Grossi cautioned both parties against actions that could endanger nuclear safety.
The Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe's largest, houses six Soviet-designed VVER-1000 V-320 water-cooled and water-moderated reactors containing uranium-235, along with spent nuclear fuel. Reactors one, two, five, and six are in cold shutdown, while reactor three is offline for repairs and reactor four is in a "hot shutdown" state, as per the plant's administration. The plant's proximity to the front lines has led to repeated accusations from both Ukraine and Russia regarding attacks on the facility, heightening concerns of a potential nuclear catastrophe.
In other developments, a woman was killed in Russia's Belgorod region when shrapnel from a downed Ukrainian drone struck a passing car, according to local Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov. Additionally, four more individuals, including two children, sustained injuries after air defenses intercepted four Ukrainian drones nearing Belgorod city. The Belgorod region, bordering Ukraine, has faced recurrent attacks from Ukrainian forces since 2022, with casualties reported, including a significant missile strike in December.
Russia's military claimed to have neutralized 15 Ukrainian drones along the border in Belgorod and the Bryansk region, with the majority destroyed in Belgorod. Ukraine has persistently employed drone attacks in border regions as part of its efforts to counter Russian advances.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the effectiveness of Ukrainian drones in thwarting Russian aggression while acknowledging ongoing attacks in frontline areas like Kharkiv and Zaporizhia. Recent strikes in Huliaipole resulted in casualties, with fatalities reported from Russian shelling on private residences. Similar incidents occurred in Kupiansk and Kharkiv, where civilians were killed and wounded in Russian assaults.
Zelenskyy stressed the urgency of US Congressional approval for military aid, underscoring its critical role in Ukraine's defense against ongoing hostilities. He warned of broader repercussions if Ukraine fails to receive adequate support, highlighting the potential for further aggression against other nations.
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