An incident involving an unmanned aerial vehicle occurred at Russia's Kursk nuclear power plant. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said the drone struck the cooling tower of one of the plant's operating reactor units.
The incident occurred on the morning of September 17, and on September 18, 2026, the IAEA released the information it had received about the situation at the facility.
What happened at the Kursk nuclear plant
The IAEA said the drone struck the cooling tower of a reactor unit that was operating at the time of the incident.
No changes in the reactor unit's operation were recorded despite the strike. No fire broke out after the incident.
Grossi comments on the incident
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi again drew attention to the risks associated with military activity near nuclear power plants.
Grossi stressed that attacks on nuclear facilities can pose a threat to nuclear and physical security regardless of where they occur.
IAEA calls for protection of nuclear facilities
Against the backdrop of the incident, the agency's director called on the parties to exercise maximum military restraint near nuclear facilities and avoid actions that could lead to a nuclear accident.
According to the initial information, the drone strike did not cause a fire or change the reactor unit's operating status.
The Kursk nuclear power plant is located in Russia's Kursk region. As fighting continues, the safety of nuclear facilities in the region remains a focus of the IAEA's attention.
