Key Points
• Zaporizhzhia plant remains at centre of conflict
• Russia blames a Ukrainian drone attack
• Nuclear safety concerns persist
ISLAMABAD: The head of the United Nations atomic watchdog has condemned as “unacceptable” the killing of a senior engineer at Ukraine’s Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warns that attacks linked to nuclear facilities pose serious risks to safety and security.
Russia said Alexander Yakovlev, the plant’s chief engineer, and a driver were killed on Tuesday in what it described as a Ukrainian drone strike near the facility and the nearby town of Enerhodar.
Ukraine had not publicly commented on the incident so far.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi condemned the killing but did not assign responsibility for the attack.
“The death of a nuclear plant worker is absolutely unacceptable,” Grossi said, reiterating that violence affecting nuclear facilities or their personnel threatens already fragile safety conditions around Europe’s largest nuclear power station, according to Reuters.
The Zaporizhzhia plant has remained one of the most sensitive flashpoints of the war since Russian forces seized it in the early weeks of the 2022 invasion.
ALSO READ: IAEA Reports Damage at Ukraine’s Nuclear Plant after Drone Strike
Although all six reactors are in shutdown mode, the facility still requires stable power supplies and staffing to maintain cooling systems and other critical safety functions, according to EBS Public Now.
The incident occurred amid growing concern over repeated military activity around Ukrainian nuclear facilities.
Atomic agency confirms damage
Earlier this month, the IAEA confirmed significant damage to a fire station in Enerhodar that supports emergency response operations at the Zaporizhzhia plant, prompting Grossi to warn that any attack undermining nuclear safety and emergency preparedness is “unacceptable.”
The agency has also reported a series of drone sightings, power outages and infrastructure disruptions at the site in recent weeks.
On July 15, the plant suffered its 22nd complete loss of off-site power since the war began, highlighting the deteriorating reliability of the surrounding electricity network and the facility’s constant vulnerability.
Grossi has repeatedly cautioned that attacks on nuclear sites or support infrastructure significantly increase the risk of a nuclear accident.
The IAEA has maintained a permanent presence at the plant since 2022 to monitor conditions and help prevent a potential radiological emergency.
The Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe’s largest nuclear power facility, has become a symbol of the dangers posed by the conflict. Russia and Ukraine have frequently accused each other of attacks in and around the site, allegations that are often difficult to verify independently.
