Russia condemns Ukrainian attack on Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
Russia’s foreign ministry, represented by spokesperson Maria Zajárova, condemned a recent Ukrainian attempt to strike the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, describing the action as a “cynical and dangerous” policy aimed at undermining nuclear safety. The reported attack targeted a spent‑fuel depot and the building that houses a specialised transporter for nuclear waste containers.
According to the plant’s administration, a Ukrainian drone was detected near the dry spent‑fuel storage area on 30 July. The explosive device carried by the drone was safely neutralised, resulting in no injuries or damage to equipment. Officials warned that damage to the transporter could have disrupted long‑term fuel‑handling operations.
Zaporizhzhia, the largest nuclear facility in Europe, contains six VVER‑1000 pressurised‑water reactors with a combined capacity of 6 000 MW. All reactors have been shut down since the plant came under Russian control after the October 2022 annexation of the Zaporizhzhia region. Repeated Ukrainian attacks over the past four years have caused power cuts, forcing the plant to rely on generators to maintain critical parameters.
Entities: Andrei Sibiga · Maria Zajárova · Russia · Russian Federation · Spent nuclear fuel storage area · Ukraine · Ukrainian forces · Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Repeated Ukrainian attacks have previously caused power cuts at the plant, requiring generators to maintain critical parameters. (Russian foreign ministry statement)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Zaporizhzhia plant has six VVER‑1000 pressurised‑water reactors with a total capacity of 6 000 MW. (plant description)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The plant has been owned by Russia since October 2022 after the annexation of the Zaporizhzhia region. (plant description)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Russia condemned a Ukrainian attack on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. (Maria Zajárova, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Ukrainian forces attempted to attack a spent nuclear fuel depot and a building housing a nuclear waste transporter at the plant. (Russian foreign ministry statement)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A Ukrainian drone was detected near the spent‑fuel storage area and its explosive device was neutralised with no injuries or damage. (Zaporizhzhia plant administration)
- [● 2 SOURCES] All six reactors at Zaporizhzhia are shut down to minimise risk. (plant administration)