Russian authorities said a drone attack on the Kursk nuclear power plant forced one reactor to reduce output by 50% after an auxiliary transformer was damaged. The incident occurred about 60km from the Ukrainian border and comes amid ongoing cross-border strikes.
According to Moscow, the drone was shot down but sparked a fire, which was later extinguished. Officials confirmed there were no casualties and no rise in radiation levels. Ukraine has not commented on the reported attack.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said its monitoring confirmed radiation levels remain “normal” near the Kursk site, which currently has two reactors in operation, two shut down, and two under construction. Director-General Rafael Grossi reiterated his call for maximum restraint, stressing that “every nuclear facility must be protected at all times.”
The IAEA has repeatedly warned of the dangers of military activity near nuclear plants since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Its teams stationed at Zaporizhzhia, Khmelnitski, Rivne, South Ukraine and Chernobyl have reported frequent air raid alarms and drone activity. Last week, staff at Chernobyl heard multiple explosions linked to anti-aircraft fire after drones were detected over the exclusion zone.
While the Kursk fire was contained quickly, the attack highlights escalating risks to nuclear safety in the conflict zone. Grossi expressed “deep concern” about the increasing frequency of drone incidents near sensitive sites and urged all sides to avoid actions that could trigger a nuclear accident.
