---
title: "IAEA: Zaporizhzhia NPP Employee Killed in Drone Strike"
description: "The IAEA reported the death of a Zaporizhzhia NPP employee and a thermal power plant worker as a result of a drone strike. This is the second death of a facility worker in a few days."
date: 2026-11-09T17:12:47.690Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/drone-strike-znpp-employee-killed-iaea
tags: [znpp, iaea, drone-attack, nuclear-safety, zaporizhzhia]
author: "Roman V., Andrey Kosynko"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# IAEA: Zaporizhzhia NPP Employee Killed in Drone Strike

![Building of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant outdoors with a blue ZNPP logo](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/09/udar-bespilotnika-po-zaes-gibel-rabotnika-magatye/udar-bespilotnika-po-zaes-gibel-rabotnika-magatye-1.webp)

## Key Points

- The IAEA confirmed the death of a Zaporizhzhia NPP employee in a drone strike.
- A worker at the nearby Zaporizhzhia TPP was killed in the same strike; a few days earlier, another NPP employee was killed by a UAV strike.
- IAEA Head Rafael Grossi condemned the attacks, called them unacceptable, and demanded an immediate halt to strikes on nuclear power plant workers.
- On the night of November 8, the ZNPP was left without external power — the 16th blackout since the beginning of the year.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), an employee of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been killed in a drone attack. As reported by RBC-Ukraine citing a statement from the agency, this is the second time an employee of the facility has been killed in recent days.

### Strike Victims

According to information provided by the IAEA, a worker at the Zaporizhzhia Thermal Power Plant, located near the ZNPP, was also killed in the same drone strike. Thus, the latest incident claimed the lives of two people working at energy facilities in the region.

### Chronology of Incidents

A few days prior, according to the agency, the IAEA received information about the death of another Zaporizhzhia NPP employee who also fell victim to a drone strike. Overall, over a short period, according to the international body, at least three nuclear and thermal energy workers in the Zaporizhzhia region have been killed as a result of UAV attacks.

### IAEA Leadership Reaction

Agency Director General Rafael Grossi strongly condemned the shelling. He stressed that such attacks are completely unacceptable and directly violate the fundamental principles of nuclear safety. "All such attacks on nuclear power plant workers must stop immediately," Grossi stated.

### Condition: Personnel Safety

In his statement, the IAEA chief also emphasized that nuclear facility personnel must be able to perform their daily duties without undue stress or constant fear for their own lives. According to him, preserving the lives and health of nuclear power plant workers is a prerequisite for ensuring the safety of these facilities.

### Context: Repeated Blackouts

Recall that on the night of November 8, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant was left without external power supply. According to available data, this blackout became the 16th since the beginning of the year. Repeated external power outages and attacks on infrastructure, according to international experts, create additional risks for the operation of Europe's largest nuclear power plant.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Удар беспилотника убил работника Запорожской АЭС, - МАГАТЭ](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/udar-bezpilotnika-vbiv-pratsivnika-zaporizkoyi-1794243975.html) - Primary source: IAEA statement on the death of a ZNPP employee and a Zaporizhzhia TPP worker in a drone strike, the death of another NPP employee a few days prior, quote from Director General Rafael Grossi; reminder of the 16th ZNPP blackout on the night of November 8.

## FAQ

### Who reported the death of the Zaporizhzhia NPP employee?

This was reported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), whose statement was cited by RBC-Ukraine.

### How many people died as a result of the latest strike?

According to the IAEA, a Zaporizhzhia NPP employee and a worker at the nearby Zaporizhzhia Thermal Power Plant were killed in the drone strike.

### What did the IAEA chief say about this?

Director General Rafael Grossi strongly condemned the shelling, called such attacks completely unacceptable and in violation of fundamental nuclear safety principles, and demanded an immediate stop to strikes on nuclear plant workers.

### Were there other related incidents?

Yes. A few days earlier, the IAEA received information about the death of another ZNPP employee from a drone strike. In addition, on the night of November 8, the station was left without external power — according to available data, this is the 16th blackout since the beginning of the year.