Nuclear safety inspectors confirmed Monday that weather tracking equipment at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear facility was knocked out of service following a drone attack.
The facility, which houses six reactors and stands as Europe’s biggest nuclear power station, fell into Russian hands during the initial phase of Moscow’s invasion that began in February 2022. Since then, both Ukrainian and Russian forces have repeatedly blamed each other for military actions that threaten the safety of the facility, which sits close to active combat zones.
In a post on X, the International Atomic Energy Agency reported that its inspection team had examined the station’s External Radiation Control Laboratory one day after Russian plant operators reported the drone strike.
“Team observed damage to some of the lab’s meteorological monitoring equipment which is no longer operational,” stated the IAEA, which serves as the United Nations’ nuclear oversight body.
The agency noted that IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi had made another urgent request “for maximum military restraint near all nuclear facilities to avoid safety risks.”
The facility, which currently generates no power, has endured multiple drone attacks since the war began. Plant administrators reported Sunday that while damage occurred, it remained limited and did not disrupt other operations.
A critical external power connection needed to maintain cooling systems for nuclear fuel has remained offline since late March, and the IAEA announced last week it was working to negotiate a temporary halt in fighting to enable repair crews to restore the line.
Grossi has conducted multiple inspections of the Zaporizhzhia facility since Russian forces took control, and the IAEA maintains permanent monitoring teams at Zaporizhzhia as well as Ukraine’s three other operational nuclear plants.
