The Ukrainian government has informed the International Atomic Energy Agency about an incident near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, where a bombing struck the area adjacent to the dry spent fuel storage facility on Saturday. Officials emphasized that there was no spread of radiation into the surrounding environment and that safety protections remained in place. Acknowledgments from the IAEA highlighted the transparency of Ukraine’s reporting and the ongoing assessment by international experts.
The IAEA had previously reported that the attack occurred a day after another bombing damaged the plant’s external power supply system and injured a Ukrainian security guard stationed at the site in the southeast region of the country. The IAEA’s account helps underscore the fragile nature of the plant’s electrical resilience in the face of consecutive attacks.
The blast damaged walls, the roof, and windows within the spent fuel storage area, and also disrupted communication cables that form part of the radiation monitoring network. The damage raised concerns about the potential impact on the operation of three radiation detection sensors. Ukraine promptly informed the IAEA of these developments, which triggered a coordinated safety review.
Despite these pressures, there was no reported visible damage to nuclear fuel containers or to the protective structures surrounding the installation, according to the IAEA’s assessment. This distinction is critical to understanding the current risk level and how safety systems continue to function under stress.
Based on information provided by Ukraine, IAEA experts concluded that there was no immediate threat to nuclear security arising from Saturday’s incident. Director General Rafael Grossi outlined these conclusions after reviewing the preliminary data and observing the evolving situation on the ground.
Concerns about the status of the center
The IAEA noted that the bombings at the Zaporizhzhia facility on Friday and Saturday have tested what the agency previously described as seven pillars of nuclear safety and protection. These pillars include maintaining the physical integrity of the plant, ensuring the reliable operation of safety and security systems, and keeping qualified personnel along with stable external power supplies on hand. The repeated attacks have raised questions about stability and the ability to sustain a safe operating environment.
Director General Grossi reaffirmed grave concerns about the plant’s situation and called for an immediate halt to any military actions that could compromise nuclear security. He urged the deployment of an IAEA expert panel to visit the site promptly to help stabilize safety and protection conditions and to provide independent oversight during this critical period.
Earlier in the war, attacks on Zaporizhzhia had intermittently disrupted electrical connections, with both Russia and Ukraine attributing responsibility to one another for the damages. The Russian administration stated that damaged reactor units were repaired and that the plant is operating normally, a claim the IAEA has been monitoring alongside other indicators of plant performance.
Ukrainian officials warned that a hypothetical nuclear disaster at Zaporizhzhia could have consequences far greater than the Chernobyl accident, potentially ten times more severe, underscoring the high stakes involved in maintaining safe operations under conflict conditions. The IAEA has emphasized the importance of independent verification and continuous safety measures in order to mitigate the risk of a broader regional impact.
Earlier in the war, Russian forces seized control of the Zaporizhzhia complex, one of Europe’s largest nuclear facilities, which has remained a focal point of intense fighting since the early stages of the conflict. The IAEA’s ongoing oversight mission continues to assess how well the plant can withstand external shocks and maintain core safety functions while the geopolitical situation evolves.