Russia says Ukraine drone struck Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

Russia’s state ⁠nuclear energy company Rosatom said on Saturday that a Ukrainian drone had struck the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, Europe’s largest, causing no damage…

Russia’s state ⁠nuclear energy company Rosatom said on Saturday that a Ukrainian drone had struck the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, Europe’s largest, causing no damage to key equipment, but the Kyiv military ‌denied it.

Rosatom’s head Alexei Likhachev called the incident “deliberate” and said it left a hole in the wall of a turbine hall.

“This afternoon, a Ukrainian kamikaze combat drone struck the turbine hall building of Power Unit No 6, resulting in ⁠a subsequent detonation,” Likhachev said in a statement.

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“The explosion caused no ‌damage to the primary equipment; however, it tore a hole in the turbine hall wall.”

Ukraine’s military denied ‌the Russian claims as “yet another propaganda ploy”. It said that ⁠the Ukrainian ⁠troops did not strike power unit No 6 at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power ‌Plant.

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is seen in June 2023. Photo: Reuters
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is seen in June 2023. Photo: Reuters

“Ukrainian servicemen act strictly within the international humanitarian law and are fully aware of the ‌consequences ‌of any actions targeting nuclear facilities,” the military said in ‌a statement.