Kyiv Denies Drone Hit on Zaporizhzhia Unit 6 as IAEA Seeks Access
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 31
Kyiv Denies Drone Hit on Zaporizhzhia Unit 6 as IAEA Seeks Access
15 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 31
Kyiv’s military rejected Russian claims that Ukrainian forces struck the turbine hall of Power Unit 6 at the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, calling them propaganda and saying no weapons were used in that frontline sector.
Rosatom said a Ukrainian kamikaze drone hit the building on Saturday and blew a hole in the wall, but reported no damage to key equipment at Europe’s largest nuclear plant.
The IAEA said it was informed a drone struck a turbine building at the site, and chief Rafael Grossi voiced serious concern while agency staff requested access to inspect the area.
Zaporizhzhia, seized by Russia in March 2022 and located near the front in southeastern Ukraine, remains highly sensitive because the shut-down plant still needs stable power for reactor cooling.
A Russian drone hit NATO territory. How will the alliance prevent a wider European war?
With drones crippling its oil industry, can Russia's war economy survive Ukraine's long-range attacks?
Why does Russia's nuclear giant, a key war supplier, remain largely unsanctioned by the West?
May 2026 Ukraine War Report: Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Strike, Drone Attacks on Russian Oil, and Escalation Risks
Overview
The report highlights escalating risks at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, where Ukraine warns that Russia’s ongoing occupation and military activities threaten both national and global nuclear safety. On May 30, 2026, a combat drone deliberately struck the plant’s turbine hall, causing structural damage and raising fears of a serious incident. Russian officials pointed to the drone’s guidance system as proof of intentional targeting, warning that repeated attacks could have far-reaching consequences. These events underscore the fragile security situation at the plant and the growing danger posed by continued military actions around critical nuclear infrastructure.