Russia claims Ukrainian drone struck Zaporizhzhia nuclear facility, Kyiv denies

Russia's state nuclear energy company Rosatom said on Saturday a Ukrainian drone had struck the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, Europe's largest, causing no damage to key equipment, but the Kyiv military denied ‌it.

Rosatom's ⁠head Alexei ⁠Likhachev called the incident "deliberate" and said it left a hole ​in the wall of a turbine hall.

"This afternoon, a Ukrainian kamikaze combat drone struck the turbine hall building of Power Unit No. 6, resulting in a subsequent detonation," Likhachev said in a statement.


Also Read: Trump says Iran has agreed there will be ‘no nuclear weapons’ as deal draws closer

"The explosion caused no ⁠damage to ‌the primary equipment; however, it tore a ​hole ​in the turbine hall wall."

Ukraine's military denied ⁠the Russian claims as "yet another propaganda ploy." It said that the Ukrainian troops did not strike power unit No. 6 at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

"Ukrainian servicemen act strictly within the international humanitarian law and are fully aware of the consequences of any actions targeting nuclear facilities," the military said in ‌a statement.

Also Read: Japan refutes 'new militarism', accuses China of rapidly arming

"At the relevant section of the front line, there was no active fighting during the ​incident, and ​no weapons ⁠were used."

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant was captured by Russia in March 2022 and remains close to the frontline in the southeastern ​Ukrainian Zaporizhzhia region.