Kursk nuclear plant drone hit caused no fire, IAEA says

A drone hit the cooling tower of a reactor unit at Russia's Kursk nuclear power plant early on Thursday, but caused no fire, the International Atomic Energy Agency said on Friday.

The UN nuclear watchdog said it had been informed of the strike at the plant, which is near the border with Ukraine and west of Kursk city. The IAEA said it was reported that the unit was operating at the time, but that its operating mode did not change.

“All attacks on nuclear facilities are unacceptable as they could endanger nuclear safety and security, irrespective of where they occur,” the IAEA said.

IAEA head Rafael Grossi also repeated his call for “maximum military restraint to prevent the risk of a nuclear accident”.

The agency has repeatedly warned of the dangers of fighting around nuclear plants since Russia launched its military offensive on Ukraine in February 2022.