IAEA reports drone crash at ZNPP training center, but Russia denies access to facility
22 May 2025 20:36
IAEA experts at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant have reported that an unknown drone crashed onto the roof of the ZNPP training center building. This is the third such incident since the beginning of the year. At the same time, the Russian side, which controls the plant, refuses to give the agency permission to inspect the building after the strike.
This is stated in a statement by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
According to the agency, the drone did not cause any casualties or serious damage, but it is not known whether it hit the building directly or fell on it after being shot down. The IAEA staff also heard gunshots, but could not confirm whether they were related to the incident.
Grossi emphasized that the situation raises serious concerns about the threat to nuclear and physical security.
“There are too many drones flying around nuclear facilities, and it is not only ZNPP. This must stop immediately,” he said.
The IAEA also reported that similar incidents with drones were previously recorded near other Ukrainian NPPs – Khmelnytsky, Rivne and South-Ukrainian NPPs. For example, last Friday, the IAEA team at the South Ukrainian station heard anti-aircraft fire after drones appeared nearby. Drones were also spotted in the Chornobyl exclusion zone.
In addition, according to the IAEA, since May 15, ZNPP has been dependent on only one power line that supplies critical nuclear safety systems.
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), the largest in Europe, has been under Russian occupation since March 2022 – in fact, since the first weeks of the full-scale invasion. The plant is located in the city of Enerhodar, Zaporizhzhia region, which was seized by Russian troops.
The seizure
On the night of March 3 to 4, 2022, Russian troops shelled ZNPP, causing a fire to break out on the territory. Despite the risk of a nuclear catastrophe, fighting continued on the territory of the plant. After that, the Russian military occupied the site and took control.
Coercion of Ukrainian personnel
Ukrainian workers remain at the plant, keeping it in a minimally safe condition, but are constantly subjected to pressure, threats and intimidation. Some of the workers were forced to sign contracts with the Russian state corporation Rosatom, which is trying to illegally integrate ZNPP into its system.
International concern
The IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) has repeatedly stated the threat of a nuclear accident due to constant shelling, mining, power outages, and restrictions on access to the facility. The agency’s experts are constantly present at ZNPP, but their access to the facilities is often restricted by the Russian administration.
NPP operation status
Currently, none of the plant’s six power units are in operation – they are in a state of “cold shutdown”. But even in this mode, the plant needs constant cooling and power supply to prevent overheating of the nuclear fuel. Any damage to the power supply threatens the safety of the facility.
Risks and safety
ZNPP has been repeatedly left without external power supply, including in May 2024 and 2025, when the plant relied on backup diesel generators. Any delay in power supply could have catastrophic consequences.
Recent incidents
The IAEA recently reported a series of drone crashes on the ZNPP training center, located near the main site. This is the third such incident since the beginning of 2025. The occupation authorities refuse to allow IAEA experts to inspect the damaged building.
