Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Worker Killed in Drone Attack, IAEA Says

A drone attack on Monday, November 9, killed one employee at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN's nuclear watchdog based in Vienna, announced the death. The incident again highlights risks to nuclear safety during the war.

In a post on X, the IAEA said it had been informed of one employee's death and described it as the latest incident affecting plant personnel. The agency added that an employee of the nearby Zaporizhzhia thermal power plant, a conventional fossil-fuel station, was also killed by a drone on Monday.

Previous incident

The IAEA last reported a worker killed in a drone attack at the nuclear plant in late October. That victim was reportedly a welder at a repair workshop.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi strongly condemns the deadly strikes, according to the agency, and regards them as unacceptable attacks that violate key pillars of nuclear safety. The agency said such attacks on plant workers must stop immediately and that personnel must be able to do their work without undue stress or fear.

Situation at the plant

Russian forces seized the Zaporizhzhia plant in March 2022, shortly after the start of the full-scale invasion. It is Europe's largest nuclear facility, and its safety has repeatedly been a concern during the war. Russia and Ukraine regularly accuse each other of attacking the site, which lies on the banks of the Dnipro River near the front line.

IAEA teams have been permanently present at the plant since September 2022. All six of its reactors have been shut down since 2022.