IAEA monitoring confirms normal radiation levels near nuclear power station
Moscow has accused Kyiv of launching dozens of drone attacks, including one that sparked a fire at the Kursk nuclear power station in western Russia.
The drone attack on the Kursk plant, about 60km from the border with Ukraine, caused damage to an auxiliary transformer and forced a 50% reduction in the operating capacity of a reactor, Russian authorities said.
Ukraine did not immediately comment on the alleged attack.
The fire sparked by the drone, which was shot down, had been extinguished and there were no casualties or increased radiation levels, the plant said on Sunday.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that radiation levels were “normal” near the Kursk facility, which has two permanently shut-down units, two in commercial operation and two under construction.
The agency said on social media: “IAEA monitoring confirms normal radiation levels near Kursk NPP; Russia says reactor unit’s power reduced due to auxiliary transformer damage but fire extinguished and no injuries.”
The IAEA had said earlier that it had no independent confirmation of the reports, but agency director-general Rafael Grossi stressed that “every nuclear facility must be protected at all times”.
The IAEA has repeatedly warned of the risks of fighting near nuclear plants after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
In a separate statement the IAEA said its sustained presence at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station in Ukraine has been essential to efforts to reduce the risk of a nuclear accident amid the conflict.
Over the past week, the IAEA team at Zaporizhzhia reported hearing military activities almost every day, and the IAEA teams present at the Khmelnitski, Rivne and South Ukraine plants and the Chernobyl site heard air raid alarms nearly every day.
On Thursday morning, the IAEA team at Chernobyl was awakened by the sound of multiple explosions. They were later told that several drones were detected above the exclusion zone, approximately 5 km from the site, and the sounds the team heard were anti-aircraft fire.
“My position remains unchanged. I’m deeply concerned about the increased frequency of reported drone activity near nuclear facilities,” Grossi said. “I renew my call for maximum military restraint to prevent a nuclear accident.”
