International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) staff reported loud explosions near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) on 5 January.

Source : IAEA press release

Details : The explosions coincided with reports of a potential drone attack on the plant's training centre, creating yet another nuclear safety threat at Europe's largest nuclear power plant.

The IAEA team stationed at the ZNPP recorded two loud explosions outside the plant’s territory at approximately 12:45 and 15:45 on 5 January. The IAEA could not confirm the impact of these explosions. Additionally, the team reported sounds of automatic gunfire from the plant’s grounds, heard multiple times.

According to the reports, the incident caused no casualties and the plant's equipment was not damaged.

"An attack on any nuclear power plant is completely unacceptable," said Rafael Grossi, Director General of the IAEA. "In light of the increased military activity at ZNPP, I once again call for maximum restraint to avert the clear danger to its safety."

Background: In November 2024, Petro Kotin, the director of Energoatom, Ukraine’s state-owned nuclear company, stated that the degradation of equipment is accelerating and disorder prevails at the plant itself due to Russian actions at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

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