Fatal attack at Enerhodar workshop
A drone attack on Oct 29 killed a welder working at the centralized repair workshop of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Enerhodar. The International Atomic Energy Agency reported the death on the social media platform X. The plant is located in the city of Enerhodar in southern Ukraine and remains Europe’s largest nuclear power plant. It has been under Russian occupation since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said that attacks on nuclear plant personnel are unacceptable and violate the agency’s Seven Indispensable Pillars for Nuclear Safety and Security during armed conflict, and he renewed his call for maximum military restraint. The IAEA did not specify whether the drone attack was carried out by either Russian or Ukrainian military forces.
Ongoing threats to the facility
The strike on the welder occurred the same day that Russian forces launched multiple missile and drone attacks against the Ukrainian-controlled city of Zaporizhzhia, which is located in southern Ukraine. Ukraine’s National Police reported that these city attacks injured at least 14 people, including one child, during the multi-pronged assault. The facility has faced repeated threats to nuclear safety through drone attacks, power supply disruptions, and incidents affecting plant workers. The facility remains Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in the region.
| Incident Date | Target | Reported Result |
|---|---|---|
| August | Personnel bus stop | 1 death, 15 injuries |
| October 3 | Zaporizhzhia Thermal Power Plant | Damaged transformers |
| October 29 | ZNPP repair workshop | 1 worker killed |
The IAEA has maintained a permanent monitoring presence at the Russian-occupied facility since September 2022 to manage the risk of a nuclear accident. The plant has seen recurring threats to nuclear safety from drone strikes and electricity supply disruptions. In August, a drone explosion at a bus stop used by plant personnel killed one person and injured 15 others, according to a report from the IAEA. On October 3, the IAEA reported a series of drone attacks that damaged transformers at the nearby Zaporizhzhia Thermal Power Plant and threatened the electricity supply to the nuclear facility. This pattern of violence and the repeated targeting of staff continues to challenge the ongoing security and safety of the site.
