International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi on Saturday expressed serious concern over a reported drone strike on a turbine building at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), warning that attacks on nuclear facilities are like "playing with fire."

The IAEA said it had been informed by the ZNPP that a drone struck a turbine building at the facility earlier in the day, reportedly causing a hole in one of the building's walls. 

Rosatom, Russia's state nuclear cooperation, said on Saturday that a Ukrainian drone had struck the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, but no damage to key equipment was reported.

The Ukrainian drone struck the turbine island of Unit 6 of the power plant and exploded earlier on Saturday.

"There should be no attacks of any kind from or against a nuclear facility," Grossi said, reiterating his call for restraint to avoid jeopardizing nuclear safety and security.

He added that the IAEA team stationed at the plant had requested access to the affected turbine building to conduct a firsthand assessment of the reported damage.

According to the IAEA, the incident would mark the first drone attack within the perimeter of the ZNPP since drone attacks at the plant were reported in April 2024.

The Zaporizhzhia plant, one of Europe's largest nuclear power facilities, has been under Russian control since March 2022. Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the IAEA has repeatedly warned of the risks posed by military activities around the site and called for the protection of nuclear infrastructure.

(With input from Xinhua)