Drone strike on Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant

Russia's state nuclear energy company Rosatom reported that a Ukrainian drone struck the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe's largest, causing a hole in the wall of a turbine hall but no damage to key equipment. Rosatom's head, Alexey Likhachev, called the incident 'deliberate' and warned of a potential nuclear incident. Ukraine's military denied the claims, calling them 'yet another propaganda ploy' and stating that Ukrainian troops act strictly within international humanitarian law. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant was captured by Russia in March 2022 and remains near the frontline. The plant, though not in service, requires reliable power to cool its six shutdown reactors and spent fuel to prevent catastrophic nuclear incidents. The International — International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly expressed alarm about the plant. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also reiterated warnings about potential large-scale Russian air strikes.