Russia says Ukrainian military tried to hit Novovoronezh nuclear power plant
Photo: Russia claimed that the Ukrainian Armed Forces attempted to attack the Novovoronezh nuclear power plant with a drone (wikipedia.org)
Russia claimed that on the night of Tuesday, October 7, Ukrainian forces tried to attack the Novovoronezh nuclear power plant. An unidentified drone was reportedly jammed but still hit a cooling tower, according to a statement from Rosenergoatom.
Russian authorities said they had neutralized a combat drone using technical means near the Novovoronezh NPP. However, it exploded after colliding with the evaporative cooling tower of operating power unit No. 6.
Rosenergoatom asserted that there were no casualties or damage from the explosion.
"The safety of the nuclear plant’s operation is ensured. The radiation background at the Novovoronezh NPP site and nearby areas remains unchanged and corresponds to natural levels. Law enforcement agencies are working at the scene," the statement reads.
Russian officials also claimed that the drone explosion did not affect the plant’s operations.
Earlier, reports indicated that Russia might stage a provocation against Ukrainian nuclear plants under a fabricated pretext.
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently claimed that Russian engineers cannot repair the power lines leading to the Zaporizhzhia NPP because they are within range of Ukrainian artillery.
Following the disconnection of the Zaporizhzhia plant from external power sources, the facility remains in a critical state regarding nuclear safety.
Since September 23, the Zaporizhzhia NPP has experienced its tenth blackout since the start of the full-scale invasion, after its last external power line connecting the plant to Ukraine’s energy grid went offline.
Russian forces continue to block power restoration efforts. The International Atomic Energy Agency has warned that the situation at the Zaporizhzhia NPP poses a serious risk of a nuclear accident.
