IAEA reports explosions near ZNPP
6 June 2025 07:59
Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said that international observers at the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant (ZNPP) heard repeated shots. This is stated in the IAEA press release, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
It is stated that the incident occurred on Thursday, at lunchtime. Between 11.30 and 13.45 local time.
“At least five explosions were recorded, each of which was preceded by gunfire. According to preliminary reports, the shots may have been in response to a drone attack that attempted to target the station’s training center,” Grossi said.
“Drones flying near nuclear power plants can threaten their safety and security, which can have serious consequences. As I have repeatedly stated during the war, such incidents must stop immediately,” added Director General Grossi.
The ZNPP informed the IAEA that all cases were related to the “neutralization of drones”. The statement did not specify their origin, and there were no reports of damage to the facility.
The IAEA reminds that this is the fourth such incident since the beginning of 2025. All incidents are related to attacks on the training center, which is located within the general infrastructure of the ZNPP. In April, the agency’s specialists were forced to temporarily leave their workplaces due to a heavy shooting near the main administrative building.
ZNPP
Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe and the third largest in the world by total capacity. Located in the Zaporizhzhia region near the city of Enerhodar, it consists of six nuclear power units of 1 GW each. Its construction began in 1981, and the first unit was commissioned in 1984. The last unit, the sixth, was commissioned in 1995.
ZNPP annually produced about 40 billion kWh of electricity, which was about 20% of Ukraine’s total power generation. It is also the first nuclear power plant in the country to have a dry spent fuel storage facility.
The Russian army seized ZNPP on the night of March 4, 2022, after shelling the nuclear facility. Russia has also occupied the city of Enerhodar, near which the nuclear power plant is located.
Since the beginning of the Russian occupation, Zaporizhzhia NPP has experienced eight full blackouts and one partial blackout, with the launch of emergency diesel generators and safety systems. According to Energoatom, their failure threatens to cause an emergency.
The last time the plant faced a blackout was on August 23 last year.
