Ukrainian drone targets nuclear plant inside Russia – operator
A Ukrainian drone has targeted a nuclear power station in Russia’s Voronezh Region overnight, Rosenergoatom, a state-run company which operates the country’s nuclear power plants, has said.
The UAV hit a cooling tower of the sixth power-generating unit at the Novovoronezh NPP after being diverted by electronic warfare means, the company said in a statement on Telegram on Tuesday.
There was no damage or injuries as a result of the incident, the statement read. A dark mark was left in the spot where the drone struck the tower, it added.
The attack did not affect the operations of the station, with the radiation level on site remaining unchanged and corresponding to natural levels, Rosenergoatom said.
"This is yet another act of aggression by the Ukrainian military against the Russian nuclear power plants. Previously, it had attempted attacks against the main facilities of the Kursk and Smolensk Nuclear Power Plants,” the company stated.
In late September, a Ukrainian drone hit one of the auxiliary buildings at Russia’s Kursk NPP, on the day when International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi was visiting Moscow.
A few days before that, the power lines feeding Russia’s Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, the largest facility of its kind in Europe, were struck by Ukrainian artillery, forcing the station to switch to generators.
Speaking at the Valdai forum in Sochi last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Ukraine was “playing a dangerous game” by going after Russian nuclear stations.
The government in Kiev “should also understand… they still have operating nuclear power plants on their side. So, what is stopping us from responding in kind? They better think about it,” Putin said.
