IAEA says drone detonated near Ukraine's South Ukraine nuclear plant

26/9/2025 7:25

A drone was downed and detonated about 800 metres (875 yards) from the perimeter of Ukraine's South Ukraine nuclear power plant overnight, the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a statement on Thursday.



There were no reports of casualties, the IAEA said.



The agency, in a statement issued by its Director General, Rafael Grossi, said its team of monitors at the site was informed that 22 drones were observed in the plant's monitoring zone late on Wednesday and early on Thursday. Some drones had flown as close as 500 metres.



Grossi said monitors had heard gunfire and explosions at about 1 a.m. and later visited the site where the drone came down and observed a crater about four metres square.



"Nearby metal structures had been hit by shrapnel and the windows of vehicles close to the impact area were shattered," Grossi wrote. A power line also came down, though it was not connected to the plant.