Ukraine's military has denied Russian claims that a Ukrainian drone struck the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, dismissing the allegation as a 'propaganda ploy'. Russia's state nuclear company Rosatom said on Saturday that a drone had hit the turbine hall of Power Unit No. 6 at Europe's largest nuclear plant, causing a hole in the wall but no damage to key equipment.
Rosatom head Alexei Likhachev described the incident as 'deliberate' and said a 'kamikaze combat drone' detonated after striking the building. However, the Ukrainian military stated that its troops did not target the plant, adding that 'no weapons were used' in that section of the frontline during the incident.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed it had been informed by the plant that a drone struck a turbine building. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi expressed serious concern, warning that 'attacking nuclear sites is like playing with fire'. The IAEA has requested access to inspect the affected area.
Separately, Ukrainian drone strikes caused fires at Russian oil facilities in the Rostov and Krasnodar regions overnight, damaging an oil depot and tanker in Taganrog and another depot in Armavir. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on X: 'We are rightfully bringing the war back to where it came from.'
In other news, Ukrainian tennis player Oleksandra Oliynykova criticised Russian players at the French Open for their stance on the war, after losing to Russia's Diana Shnaider. She accused them of participating in events sponsored by Russian companies linked to the war effort.
