Zaporizhzhia NPP informs IAEA of drone strike on transport workshop UPDATED

Staff at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant have informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of an alleged attack by Ukrainian armed forces on the plant’s transport workshop.

ZNPP director Yuri Chernichuk told Russian media that the incident was raised during routine contact with the IAEA mission at the site.

“Attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces are one of the sections of our daily communication with Agency representatives at the site. This morning, around 6 am, we informed them of the events unfolding at the transport centre of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant,” he said.

IAEA experts stationed at the plant have reportedly relayed the information to the agency’s headquarters. However, Chernichuk said there had been no official response so far from IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi.

“This morning, around 6 am [Moscow time], we informed them of the events unfolding in the transport workshop of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. I later received feedback that the IAEA inspectors had informed the Agency. Unfortunately, I have not seen any official reaction from Mr Grossi or the Agency,” he added.

11:14

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) management will inform the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) about a mass drone attack carried out by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the station’s transport workshop.

The announcement was made by Yevgeniya Yashina, director of communications at the plant, in comments to Russian media.

“The IAEA will definitely be informed,” Yashina said.

10:14

Ukrainian forces have carried out a large-scale drone attack on a transport workshop at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), according to the plant’s Russian-installed administration.

The ZNPP said at least 14 drone strikes were recorded during the evening of June 18 and overnight into June 19, targeting the facility’s transport workshop.

It said one of the strikes caused a fire in a bay within the workshop, damaging buildings in a repair zone. No casualties were reported.

The plant administration said the full extent of the damage could not yet be assessed due to what it described as a continuing risk of further attacks and restrictions on inspection work.

It said the aim of the strikes was to disrupt transport infrastructure at the site, complicate logistics and the movement of staff, and thereby create additional risks for the operation of the plant.

“Despite the ongoing attacks, staff are taking all necessary measures to maintain the safe and stable operation of the facility,” the statement added.