IAEA demands access to Zaporizhzhia plant after drone strike; Ukraine denies involvement

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has called for access to the turbine hall at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant after reporting a drone strike that created a hole in the hall's wall. The agency described the incident as the first drone attack within the plant's grounds since April 2024, expressing serious concern. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stated that attacks on nuclear facilities are akin to "playing with fire."

Russia's state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, claimed a Ukrainian drone struck the facility, which is under Russian control. However, the Ukrainian military has refuted this, labeling the Russian assertion as a "propaganda trick." Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy renewed his warning about a potential massive Russian air attack, citing intelligence information and urging citizens to heed air raid alerts.

Zelenskyy highlighted that while Ukraine's air defense is on alert, there are challenges with supplies from Western countries, potentially limiting the ability to intercept all ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. Separately, reports indicate two people were killed and two injured in a Ukrainian drone attack on Russia's Belgorod region.