Moscow: U.N.'s atomic watchdog agency head Rafael Mariano Grossi warned Sunday that a drone attack on one of the six nuclear reactors at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant significantly raises the risk of a major nuclear accident. He confirmed at least three direct hits against the plant's main reactor containment structures, stating, "This cannot happen." Grossi highlighted this as the first attack of its kind since November 2022 when he outlined five principles to prevent serious nuclear accidents with radiological consequences.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also confirmed physical impact from drone attacks at the plant, including on one of its reactors, with one reported casualty. While damage to unit 6 hasn't compromised nuclear safety, the incident is deemed serious and could undermine the integrity of the reactor's containment system.

Officials at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, under Russian control, reported an attack on Sunday by Ukrainian military drones, including a strike on the dome of the sixth power unit. They stated no critical damage or casualties occurred, and radiation levels remained normal post-strikes. However, Russian state-owned nuclear agency Rosatom later revealed three people were wounded in the series of drone attacks, particularly when a drone hit near the site's canteen.

Grossi, without assigning blame, emphasized the safety risks of such attacks, urging adherence to the IAEA principles and the preservation of nuclear safety.

The power plant has been a focal point since Russia's incursion into Ukraine in 2022, with Moscow seizing the facility. The IAEA has consistently expressed concern about the plant, Europe's largest, amid fears of a potential nuclear disaster. Both Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of attacking the plant, which remains near the front lines.

The plant's reactors have been offline for months, yet it still requires power and qualified staff to operate crucial cooling systems and safety features.

Additionally, on Sunday, casualties were reported in Ukraine's Huliaipole and Kharkiv regions due to Russian shelling, while in Russia's Belgorod region, a girl died and four others were wounded when debris from a downed Ukrainian drone fell on a car.

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