Officials from the International Atomic Energy Agency have acknowledged reports of a drone strike near Russia’s Kursk nuclear power plant. The agency’s remarks come after Russian sources described the incident, as cited by RIA News.
According to IAEA communications, three unmanned aerial vehicles were detected in the vicinity of the Kursk nuclear power facility in the southern region of the Russian Federation. The agency confirmed this detection and noted the occurrence publicly.
IAEA updates indicate that one of the drones exploded, resulting in minor damage to the exterior of the building used for the storage of spent nuclear fuel. There were no fatalities reported from the event, and radiation readings at the Kursk NPP site remain within the established safety limits (IAEA).
Allegations tied to a separate incident in late October describe an attack by Ukrainian drones in the Kursk region. Reports from Moscow quote a collapse of one drone and its intrusion into the nuclear waste repository at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, with claims that the device damaged the facility’s walls. Russian officials have suggested that Western components were involved in the drones used. The Kursk plant administration has confirmed the attack and asserted that the facility’s operation was not compromised (Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova; official statements cited by IAEA and Russian authorities).
Earlier disclosures from the Foreign Ministry point to perceived Western involvement in the attack on the Kursk facility, while the plant’s management emphasizes continued safe operation amid the incident (foreign ministry statements and plant confirmation cited by IAEA).
Context from international observers highlights that any disruption near a nuclear installation triggers close scrutiny of safety protocols, emergency response readiness, and the integrity of containment structures. The IAEA continues to monitor the situation for potential radiological impacts and to assess the broader implications for nuclear safety and regional stability (IAEA briefings and subsequent statements).
In summary, the series of drone-related events near the Kursk nuclear power plant has prompted official briefings from international and Russian authorities. While one drone damaged the exterior of a spent fuel building, there is no evidence of immediate radiological danger, and access to the facility remains managed under standard safety procedures. The situation remains under close observation as investigations proceed and more information becomes available (IAEA and national agency updates).