Russian Drone Attacks IAEA Vehicle Transporting Staff to Zaporizhzhia NPP

A Russian drone attacked a service vehicle of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the way to the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) on December 10.

At the time of the attack, the service vehicle was transporting personnel from the IAEA Support and Assistance Mission to the plant. No casualties were reported, although the vehicle was significantly damaged.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, in a response to the Russian drone strike, called attacks on nuclear power plants and the staff who maintain them “unacceptable.”

On November 14, Russia's Foreign Ministry issued a warning that it could expel IAEA inspectors from the occupied ZNPP if it deems their activities "inappropriate." On November 21, the plant was deemed by the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy to be at risk of a total blackout due to Russian attacks for the second time in a week. 

The Russian occupation of the ZNPP began in the early days of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Russian forces seized the plant during the Battle of Enerhodar on March 4 2022, and have repeatedly shelled areas near the facility, risking a nuclear incident. The occupation has been condemned internationally, with the IAEA repeatedly calling for the establishment of a safety zone around the plant.