Related: Putin denies Russian drone struck Romania
Russia’s state nuclear company, Rosatom, accused Ukraine of a drone strike on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest, on Saturday, claiming it damaged a turbine hall wall near reactor 6 but caused no radiation leak.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed it was informed of the alleged strike and is seeking direct access to inspect the damage, warning that “attacking nuclear sites is like playing with fire”.
Ukraine vehemently denied responsibility for the incident, accusing Moscow of spreading “propaganda” and engaging in ”nuclear blackmail” by using the Russian-occupied plant, which has been a source of safety concerns since the early stages of the conflict.
Separately, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that his remarks about the Ukraine war coming to an end were based on battlefield advances, though he refused to provide a specific timeline and dismissed Western claims of Russia preparing for war with Europe as false.
Analysis from the Institute of War suggests that President Putin has adopted a “reckless policy” concerning increasingly frequent Russian drone incursions into NATO airspace, indicating an acceptance of the risk of drones entering NATO territory and potentially causing civilian casualties.
