IAEA says shelling reported near Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Tuesday its team at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant heard shelling near the site and observed black smoke rising from three nearby locations.

According to the UN nuclear watchdog, multiple artillery shells struck outside the plant's perimeter, around 400 meters from its off-site diesel fuel storage facility, the IAEA said in a statement.

"While there were no reports of casualties or equipment damage, the incident once again underlined the constant dangers to nuclear safety and security," IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said.

Incidents of shelling occur frequently. The plant's reactors remain shut down, but the nuclear fuel still requires constant cooling.

There were no statements on the incident from either Russian or Ukrainian officials.

Russian forces have controlled the nuclear plant, Europe's largest with six reactors, since 2022. Moscow and Kyiv routinely trade accusations over actions endangering nuclear safety.

Last week, a Moscow-appointed governor of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region said a Ukrainian drone detonated above the facility, according to Reuters. Staff had earlier reported two attacks over the previous week on a training centre adjacent to the reactors.

The IAEA maintains permanent monitoring teams at Zaporizhzhia and at Ukraine's three other nuclear plants, urging both sides to avoid actions posing a threat to the facility.

(With input from Reuters)