IAEA records damage to turbine hall building at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

IAEA experts have recorded damage to the exterior of the turbine hall building at the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) and confirmed that radiation levels remain within normal limits.

Source: IAEA on X (Twitter)

Quote: "The IAEA team at the ZNPP this morning observed damage to the exterior of a turbine building which the plant said was hit by a drone strike yesterday.

During a site walk down, the team saw damage to a metal access hatch located several levels up in the building, as well as a few pieces of debris and burned optical fiber remains on the ground.

The team's observations are consistent with the impact of a drone."

Details: IAEA experts also requested access to the interior of the building, located directly adjacent to power unit No. 6, for further inspection.

The statement notes that during the site inspection the team was ordered to take cover after hearing the sound of drones nearby and shots fired to repel them.

The team was also able to confirm using measurement equipment that radiation levels at the facility remain within normal limits.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stated that the strike of 30 May was a serious incident that endangered key principles of nuclear safety, the statement reads.

The IAEA statement makes no mention of whose drone allegedly struck the facility.

Background:

• On 30 May, the defence forces refuted Russian claims of an alleged Ukrainian drone strike on power unit No. 6 of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
• The State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate stressed that no changes to the radiation situation in the area of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant had been observed and that IAEA experts were to verify information spread by Russian representatives about an alleged drone strike on the turbine hall building of Unit No. 6.
• Ukraine's Foreign Ministry noted that Russian claims of an alleged Ukrainian drone strike on the occupied ZNPP emerged on the eve of an IAEA Board of Governors meeting and called on Board members not to support granting Russia a seat on it.
• On 31 May, Ukraine's defence forces called Russia's latest claims of a new strike on the transport workshop at the occupied ZNPP a lie.

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