The Zaporizhzhia nuclear energy plant, Europe’s largest, is seen within the background of the shallow Kakhovka Reservoir after the dam collapse, in Energodar, Russian-occupied Ukraine, Tuesday, June 27, 2023.

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The Zaporizhzhia nuclear energy plant, Europe’s largest, is seen within the background of the shallow Kakhovka Reservoir after the dam collapse, in Energodar, Russian-occupied Ukraine, Tuesday, June 27, 2023.

LIBKOS/AP

KYIV, Ukraine — The head of the U.N.’s atomic watchdog company on Sunday condemned a Ukrainian drone strike on one among six nuclear reactors on the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, saying such assaults “significantly increase the risk of a major nuclear accident.”

In a press release on the social media platform X, Rafael Mariano Grossi confirmed at the least three direct hits in opposition to the ZNPP predominant reactor containment buildings occurred. “This cannot happen,” he mentioned.

He mentioned it was the primary such assault since November 2022, when he set out 5 fundamental rules to keep away from a critical nuclear accident with radiological penalties.

Officials on the plant mentioned the positioning was attacked Sunday by Ukrainian navy drones, together with a strike on the dome of the plant’s sixth energy unit.

According to the plant authorities, there was no important injury or casualties and radiation ranges on the plant have been regular after the strikes. Later on Sunday, nonetheless, Russian state-owned nuclear company Rosatom mentioned that three folks have been wounded within the “unprecedented series of drone attacks,” particularly when a drone hit an space near the positioning’s canteen.

The International Atomic Energy Agency mentioned Sunday that its consultants had been knowledgeable of the drone strike and that “such detonation is consistent with IAEA observations.”

In a separate assertion, the IAEA confirmed bodily impression of drone assaults on the plant, together with at one among its six reactors. One casualty was reported, it mentioned.

“Damage at unit 6 has not compromised nuclear safety, but this is a serious incident with potential to undermine integrity of the reactor’s containment system” it added.

The energy plant has been caught within the crossfire since Moscow despatched troops into Ukraine in 2022 and seized the ability shortly after. The IAEA has repeatedly expressed alarm concerning the nuclear energy plant, Europe’s largest, amid fears of a possible nuclear disaster. Both Ukraine and Russia have repeatedly accused the opposite of attacking the plant, which continues to be near the entrance traces.

The plant’s six reactors have been shut down for months, nevertheless it nonetheless wants energy and certified employees to function essential cooling programs and different security options.

Also on Sunday, three folks have been killed when their home was hit by a Russian projectile within the front-line city of Huliaipole in Ukraine’s partly occupied southeastern Zaporizhzhia area, regional Gov. Ivan Fedorov mentioned. Later on Sunday, two folks have been wounded in one other shelling of Huliaipole.

Separately, three folks have been wounded in Russian shelling in Ukraine’s northeast Kharkiv area, based on regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov.

In Russia, a woman died and 4 different folks have been wounded when the particles of a downed Ukrainian drone fell on a automobile carrying a household of six folks in Russia’s Belgorod area bordering Ukraine, regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov mentioned.