IAEA records strikes near Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant
Illustrative photo: Russian forces at Zaporizhzhia NPP (Getty Images)
The IAEA team has recorded shelling near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, once again highlighting the ongoing threats to nuclear safety during the war in Ukraine, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The IAEA report of September 16 stated that several artillery shells landed outside the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, about 400 meters from the diesel fuel storage site. After the strikes, observers recorded black smoke rising from three locations near the plant.
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said the team stationed at Zaporizhzhia reported shelling nearby and saw smoke from three adjacent areas. The plant confirmed to inspectors that shells had struck outside the site, causing vegetation fires, which were later contained.
The team noted that the shelling was sporadic and lasted for about two hours, starting at 01:26 PM local time, including three strikes around 02:30 PM. Gunfire was heard in the impact area, and smoke was later visible from the plant’s main administrative zone. The inspectors have not yet been able to access the area, but plan to do so once it is safe.
Although no casualties or equipment damage were reported, Grossi stressed that the incident again underscored the constant threat to nuclear safety:
"Military action still endangers the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant. What was once virtually unimaginable – shelling or other military activity taking place close to major nuclear facilities – has become a regular occurrence during this horrific war."
He also emphasized that IAEA teams at Chornobyl, Rivne, South Ukraine, and Khmelnytskyi nuclear plants have recently recorded a sharp increase in military activity, which raises risks for all nuclear facilities in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the international community has taken note of a significant development in Iran after reports of an agreement with the IAEA on restoring oversight of its nuclear facilities.
At the same time, Russia continues to signal plans to restore its nuclear capabilities, citing what it calls "colossal threats" from the West and emphasizing the role of nuclear potential in preserving state sovereignty.
