---
title: "Ukrainian drone hits Zaporizhzhia NPP unit wall: Russia's version and Kyiv's denial"
description: "🚨 Ukrainian drone hits Zaporizhzhia NPP unit wall — so claim Russian authorities. Kyiv denies it, calling it \"nuclear blackmail.\" IAEA requested access for inspection. 🔍⚡️"
date: 2026-05-31T17:32:32.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukrainian-drone-hits-zaporizhzhia-npp-unit-wall-russias-version-and-kyivs-denial
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Ukrainian drone hits Zaporizhzhia NPP unit wall: Russia's version and Kyiv's denial

![Fire and smoke at Zaporizhzhia NPP: aftermath of Ukrainian drone strike on reactor wall](https://xab.info/media/2026/05/31/dron-vs-popal-v-stenu-energobloka-zaporojskoj-aes-versiya-rossii-i-oprovzherenie-kieva/dron-vs-popal-v-stenu-energobloka-zaporojskoj-aes-versiya-rossii-i-oprovzherenie-kieva-1.webp)

### Incident at Europe's Largest Nuclear Power Plant

On Saturday, May 30, the Telegram channel of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), currently under Russian control, reported the first recorded strike by a Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) drone on the wall of the turbine hall of Unit 6. This event marks a new stage in the tense situation surrounding Europe's largest nuclear power plant.

According to Russian authorities, the attack caused an explosion and a hole in the building's wall, but no critical damage was recorded. The main equipment remained intact, all systems are operating normally, and radiation levels are within the norm. The report stated that there were no casualties, and specialists are currently inspecting the site of the incident.

### "Nuclear blackmail" and lack of evidence

Alexey Likhachev, General Director of Rosatom, stated that the drone was allegedly controlled via fiber optics. He emphasized the seriousness of the incident, noting that this is the first targeted attack on the NPP's main equipment involving a through-and-through explosion of the turbine hall building. Likhachev warned that such actions could affect the safety of people far beyond Russia and Ukraine.

However, the Southern Operational Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces categorically rejected Moscow's accusations. In a Facebook post, they stated that they do not strike nuclear facilities and act exclusively within the norms of international humanitarian law. Kyiv accused the Russian side of "nuclear blackmail" and information provocations aimed at discrediting Ukraine.

The AFU emphasized that Russia provided no photo or video evidence of the strike. Furthermore, they pointed out technical inconsistencies: the Zaporizhzhia NPP is located 50 km from the front line, and Ukraine does not possess fiber-optic drones with such a long range and a 5–6 kg warhead necessary to punch a hole in the wall. "The version promoted by Russia does not stand up to factual scrutiny," Ukrainian military officials summarized.

### IAEA reaction and power supply issues

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reacted to reports of the drone strike. Upon receiving information from the plant's management, the IAEA team at the Zaporizhzhia NPP requested access to directly inspect the turbine hall building. This decision aims to independently verify the situation and assess possible consequences.

On the eve of the incident, the IAEA reported that the Zaporizhzhia NPP lost external power supply for the 16th time since the war began. During the one-hour outage, emergency diesel generators were activated to power critical safety systems. Later, the plant was reconnected to the only remaining power transmission line.

Europe's largest NPP, whose six reactors have been shut down since 2022 but still require cooling, relies on a backup line for electricity. The situation remains tense, and the international community continues to monitor the development of events.