Horror as huge strike launched on Ukrainian nuclear plant sparking ‘Chernobyl 2’ fears | World | News
Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant after the previous strike (Image: Getty)
It was reported that an attack was carried out near the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant in southeastern Ukraine, which is currently under Russian control, after Russia claimed that a Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle landed near the facility. The area has been a source of ongoing concern since it was captured by Russian forces in March 2022 following intense fighting in the area.
There have been repeated attacks in the area since then, with both sides of the conflict blaming each other for attacks near the facility. In a separate incident earlier this week, experts warned that Russia could cause a new nuclear accident in Ukraine, 40 years after the Chernobyl disaster. The International Atomic Energy Agency issued an alert following a reported fatal incident at the facility; Russia’s state nuclear agency Rosatom has claimed that a transport worker was killed in a drone attack that it blamed on Ukrainian forces. Rosatom described the incident as a “major tragedy” and warned that attacks on the facility endangered both human life and general security.
Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine is the largest in Europe (Image: Getty)
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The IAEA Director-General issued a stern warning, saying in a statement that attacks on nuclear power plants (NPPs) or their vicinity could endanger nuclear security and “should not happen”.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said in a statement regarding this latest attack: “The IAEA was informed by the ZNPP today that a drone targeted the External Radiation Control Laboratory (ECRL).
“There were no reported injuries and it is not yet known whether the attack damaged the laboratory located outside the ZNPP perimeter.”
Director-General Rafael Grossi stated that an IAEA team in the region had requested access to the laboratory to assess the situation and warned that any attack close to nuclear sites could pose serious security risks.
The watchdog said its experts on the ground were working to determine whether the attack caused any damage to the monitoring facility.
Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe and is currently in the cold shutdown phase.
Outlook of the Russian-controlled Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in 2023 (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Although the targeted laboratory was located outside the facility’s main perimeter and was used to monitor radiation levels, officials emphasized that attacks on the perimeter still pose a potential risk.
In February 2025, a drone strike damaged the protective New Safe Confinement structure at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, which contained the remains of the 1986 reactor explosion.
The attack created hundreds of openings in the structure and weakened its ability to contain radioactive material, officials said.
Although radiation levels remained stable during that period, experts warned that the damage would pose long-term safety risks if not repaired immediately; Greenpeace Ukraine warned that the attack would increase the risk of structural failure if further damage occurred.
The latest incident occurred at a time of growing global concerns about nuclear safety; Similar concerns have been expressed in other conflicts involving clashes near nuclear facilities.
