MOSCOW (Reuters) -Ukraine struck the dome above a shutdown reactor at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear station on Sunday, though radiation levels were normal and there was no serious damage, the plant’s Russian-installed administration said.
It was not immediately clear what weapon was used against the nuclear plant, which was taken by Russian forces shortly after their full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The plant said earlier it had been attacked by Ukrainian drones.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has experts at the site, said it had been informed by the Russian-run plant that a drone had detonated at the site and the information was “consistent” with IAEA observations.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said both sides should refrain from actions which “jeopardise nuclear safety”.
The nuclear plant has six Soviet-designed VVER-1000 V-320 water-cooled and water-moderated reactors containing Uranium 235 and also has spent nuclear fuel at the facility.
Reactors No. 1, 2, 5 and 6 are in cold shutdown while Reactor No. 3 is shut down for repair and Reactor No. 4 is in so-called “hot shutdown”, according to the plant.
The plant, which is Europe’s largest, said that the Ukrainian armed forces “attacked the dome” of the building housing Reactor No. 6.
“The radiation levels at the plant and the surrounding area have not changed.”
Reuters was unable to immediately verify battlefield accounts from either side. Ukraine did not immediately comment on the situation.
The plant remains close to the front lines, and both Ukraine and Russia have repeatedly accused the other of attacking the plant and so risking a possible nuclear disaster.
The IAEA’s Grossi has repeatedly warned of grave concerns about the plant due to repeated attacks.
(Reporting by Felix Light in Tbilisi and Guy Faulconbridge in Moscow; editing by Giles Elgood)
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