The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant and Reports of Cooling-Tower Damage
The attack by Ukrainian forces on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant reportedly caused serious damage to one of its cooling towers. This information is attributed to Rosatom in a report carried by TASS, the Russian news agency.
According to the report, on August 11 at 20:20 and 20:32 local time, a drone strike hit one of the two cooling towers twice. The impact allegedly started a fire that damaged internal structures within the tower. By 23:30 the same day, fire suppression crews from the Ministry of Emergency Situations had localized the blaze, but significant damage to internal cooling-tower components remained evident.
Rosatom added that experts would assess the risk of structural collapse as soon as conditions allowed a proper evaluation. The company stressed that the situation required careful examination to determine potential consequences for reactor cooling systems and safety margins at the facility.
Evgenia Yashina, previously the ZNPP Communications Director, indicated that information regarding the effects of the Ukrainian drone attack on the plant’s cooling systems would be shared with inspectors from the IAEA when feasible. The channel of communication with international observers was highlighted as an important step to ensure transparency about the incident and its implications for plant safety.
Initial reports described the August 11 incident as the first time the Zaporizhzhia infrastructure experienced serious damage directly linked to a drone strike. The focus of concern remained on the cooling towers and the broader safety envelope of the facility, with authorities noting that the event required a detailed technical review to understand the extent of damage and any long-term implications for cooling operations.
There has been prior international commentary on the Zaporizhzhia site, including reactions from the United States and other states regarding the strategic and safety issues surrounding the plant. Observers emphasized the importance of safeguarding a facility of such significance and urged adherence to international safety norms and verification processes to prevent escalation and ensure the continued safe operation of nuclear assets. The situation underscored the complexity of balancing regional security concerns with the need to maintain robust nuclear-safety practices in a contested environment. [Source: Rosatom, TASS; later IAEA briefing notes]