The head of Rosatom State Corporation Alexei Likhachev claimed that Ukraine had 'deliberately' hit workers of the Zaporizhzhya Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Energodar, speaking on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Astana on Wednesday.
"Three drone strikes happened at the Raduga substation in Energodar," he stated. "This is probably the first attack where Zaporozhye NPP employees were deliberately put under attack," said Likhachev.
The head of Russia’s state nuclear energy corporation added that eight people were injured in the incident and were receiving treatment. Likhachev called the incident 'not only a compromise of IAEA safety principles, but a demonstrative violation', adding that the Russian Federation wants the attack 'to be assessed'.
"From our country, we will do everything to ensure that the safe operation of the plant, comfortable living in Energodar continues," Likhachev continued.
The governor of the Zaporozhye region, Yevgeny Balitsky, reported that most of the city had been left without electricity after the strike by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, adding that repair works are underway.
The Federal Service for Environmental, Technological and Nuclear Supervision (Rostekhnadzor) said that the power supply to Zaporozhye NPP had not been interrupted by the attack on the substation.
"It has been established that the damage to the transformers at the Raduga substation did not affect the power supply to the station, which is being provided in normal mode. No defects affecting safety have been detected. The radiation situation at the site is normal," the agency clarified in a statement.
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said the attack on an electrical substation poses a threat to nuclear safety.
"It is extremely concerning that these drone attacks are continuing, despite the very clear dangers they present to people in Energodar, as well as to safety at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant. They must stop immediately," said Grossi.
At the time of publication, Ukraine had not commented on the allegation by the head of Rosatom.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that Kiev planned to submit a resolution on nuclear safety to the UN General Assembly.
Since July 2022, Moscow and Kiev have repeatedly accused each other of shelling the nuclear facility, after Russia seized control of the plant in March. The IAEA has maintained a presence at Zaporozhye NPP since September 2022 to monitor safety at the plant.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
Kiev 'deliberately' targeted Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant workers - Rosatom Director General Likhachev
The head of Rosatom State Corporation Alexei Likhachev claimed that Ukraine had 'deliberately' hit workers of the Zaporizhzhya Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Energodar, speaking on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Astana on Wednesday.
"Three drone strikes happened at the Raduga substation in Energodar," he stated. "This is probably the first attack where Zaporozhye NPP employees were deliberately put under attack," said Likhachev.
The head of Russia’s state nuclear energy corporation added that eight people were injured in the incident and were receiving treatment. Likhachev called the incident 'not only a compromise of IAEA safety principles, but a demonstrative violation', adding that the Russian Federation wants the attack 'to be assessed'.
"From our country, we will do everything to ensure that the safe operation of the plant, comfortable living in Energodar continues," Likhachev continued.
The governor of the Zaporozhye region, Yevgeny Balitsky, reported that most of the city had been left without electricity after the strike by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, adding that repair works are underway.
The Federal Service for Environmental, Technological and Nuclear Supervision (Rostekhnadzor) said that the power supply to Zaporozhye NPP had not been interrupted by the attack on the substation.
"It has been established that the damage to the transformers at the Raduga substation did not affect the power supply to the station, which is being provided in normal mode. No defects affecting safety have been detected. The radiation situation at the site is normal," the agency clarified in a statement.
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said the attack on an electrical substation poses a threat to nuclear safety.
"It is extremely concerning that these drone attacks are continuing, despite the very clear dangers they present to people in Energodar, as well as to safety at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant. They must stop immediately," said Grossi.
At the time of publication, Ukraine had not commented on the allegation by the head of Rosatom.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that Kiev planned to submit a resolution on nuclear safety to the UN General Assembly.
Since July 2022, Moscow and Kiev have repeatedly accused each other of shelling the nuclear facility, after Russia seized control of the plant in March. The IAEA has maintained a presence at Zaporozhye NPP since September 2022 to monitor safety at the plant.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
The head of Rosatom State Corporation Alexei Likhachev claimed that Ukraine had 'deliberately' hit workers of the Zaporizhzhya Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Energodar, speaking on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Astana on Wednesday.
"Three drone strikes happened at the Raduga substation in Energodar," he stated. "This is probably the first attack where Zaporozhye NPP employees were deliberately put under attack," said Likhachev.
The head of Russia’s state nuclear energy corporation added that eight people were injured in the incident and were receiving treatment. Likhachev called the incident 'not only a compromise of IAEA safety principles, but a demonstrative violation', adding that the Russian Federation wants the attack 'to be assessed'.
"From our country, we will do everything to ensure that the safe operation of the plant, comfortable living in Energodar continues," Likhachev continued.
The governor of the Zaporozhye region, Yevgeny Balitsky, reported that most of the city had been left without electricity after the strike by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, adding that repair works are underway.
The Federal Service for Environmental, Technological and Nuclear Supervision (Rostekhnadzor) said that the power supply to Zaporozhye NPP had not been interrupted by the attack on the substation.
"It has been established that the damage to the transformers at the Raduga substation did not affect the power supply to the station, which is being provided in normal mode. No defects affecting safety have been detected. The radiation situation at the site is normal," the agency clarified in a statement.
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said the attack on an electrical substation poses a threat to nuclear safety.
"It is extremely concerning that these drone attacks are continuing, despite the very clear dangers they present to people in Energodar, as well as to safety at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant. They must stop immediately," said Grossi.
At the time of publication, Ukraine had not commented on the allegation by the head of Rosatom.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that Kiev planned to submit a resolution on nuclear safety to the UN General Assembly.
Since July 2022, Moscow and Kiev have repeatedly accused each other of shelling the nuclear facility, after Russia seized control of the plant in March. The IAEA has maintained a presence at Zaporozhye NPP since September 2022 to monitor safety at the plant.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.