Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA
A drone hit and severely damaged an official vehicle of the International Atomic Energy Agency during a rotation today of IAEA teams to Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), in what Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi condemned as an “unacceptable” attack on Agency staff working to prevent a nuclear accident during the military conflict.
The IAEA staff, one driver and one security officer, who were in the armoured vehicle at the time of the incident at 2:05 pm local time were both unharmed, but the rear of the vehicle was destroyed.
The incident occurred approximately 8 kilometres from the frontline within Ukrainian controlled territory. The vehicle was in a convoy moving towards the handover point on the frontline to meet the IAEA team that had been stationed at the ZNPP for the past month, as part of the Agency’s efforts to help ensure nuclear safety and security at the site. Earlier in the day, the new IAEA team had been safely driven to the handover point for onward travel to the ZNPP.
“As Director General of the IAEA, I condemn in the most firm terms this attack on IAEA staff,” Director General Grossi said in a statement. “Fortunately, there were no victims, and our teams are safe. The rotation has been completed,” he said.
The driver of a second IAEA vehicle in the convoy saw the Kamikaze drone coming from behind and slamming into the targeted vehicle.
“I have said in the past that attacking a nuclear power plant is a no go. Attacking those who care for the nuclear safety and security of these plants is also absolutely unacceptable,” Director General Grossi said, reiterating his call for maximum restraint.
The IAEA has been present at the ZNPP since 1 September 2022, when Director General Grossi led the first Agency mission to the site. The new team that arrived today is the 26th overall at the ZNPP.