Ukraine denies Russian allegations that it launched drone attacks on a major nuclear power plant

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A senior Ukrainian official denied Russian accusations that his country's military launched explosive drones at Europe's largest nuclear power plant, which Kremlin forces had been occupying and operating in southern Ukraine since shortly after the war began more than two years ago. Years ago.

Andrei Yusov, spokesman for Ukraine's military intelligence agency, indicated there was no attack, saying Russian forces routinely fabricate strikes on the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant. However, the strikes on this occasion were confirmed by the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency, although it did not attribute responsibility for the attack to either side.

The factory has repeatedly been caught in the crossfire since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and seized the facility shortly after. The International Atomic Energy Agency, a United Nations body, has repeatedly expressed concern about the facility amid fears of a potential nuclear disaster.

The plant's six reactors have been shut down for months, but still need power and qualified personnel to operate critical cooling systems and other safety features.

The United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency on Sunday confirmed drone strikes on one of the plant's six reactors, wounding one person.

She added that the agency team did not notice structural damage to “systems, structures and components” important for the plant’s nuclear safety. They reported superficial burns at the top of the reactor dome.

The damage “did not jeopardize nuclear safety, but this is a serious incident (with) the potential to undermine the integrity of the reactor’s containment system,” the IAEA said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi, said that the main reactor's containment structures were subjected to at least three direct hits. “This can't be happening,” he said in X.

Zaporizhia is one of the four regions that Russia illegally annexed in September 2022.

The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, said Russian authorities are seeking “to use Russia's physical control over (the station) to force international organizations, including the International Atomic Energy Agency, to meet with Russian occupation officials to legitimize the Russian occupation.” (Factory) and thus Russia's occupation of sovereign Ukrainian territories.

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