Welder killed at Europe's largest nuclear plant in drone strike
A welder employed at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was killed by a drone attack on the Russian-occupied facility in Ukraine.
The IAEA confirmed on Thursday that a worker at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant was killed in a drone attack. The employee was reportedly a welder at the facility's repair workshop.
The IAEA did not say whether Russian or Ukrainian forces carried out the strike. The Zaporizhzhia plant is Europe's largest nuclear power station with six reactors.
Although the reactors are shut down, they must continue to be cooled to prevent a nuclear accident. The IAEA has a permanent team on site to monitor the situation.
The attack came as Ukraine faced heavy bombardment that day. At least 20 people died across the country, including 14 in a Russian drone strike on a railway station in Dnipro.
- 6 reactors, Europe's largest
- Plant size
- At least 20 people killed across Ukraine
- Thursday's toll
- Welder at repair workshop
- Victim
- Zaporizhzhia, Russian-occupied
- Location
Why it mattersAttacks on nuclear plant workers raise the risk of accidents. Any disruption to cooling systems could release radiation across a wide area and cause catastrophic damage.
AustraliaNo direct Australian effect yet, though a major nuclear accident would affect global radiation levels and food imports from Europe.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 3 h ago
