IAEA Reports Over 160 Russian Drones Flew Over Ukrainian Nuclear Plants

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported a significant surge in Russian drone activity near key Ukrainian nuclear facilities. Between May 13 and 14, more than 160 unmanned aerial vehicles were recorded flying over the South Ukraine, Rivne, and Chornobyl nuclear power plants. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi expressed deep concern regarding these incidents, emphasizing the critical need for all parties to adhere to fundamental principles of nuclear safety and security during armed conflict. This recent escalation follows a series of troubling events at Ukrainian nuclear sites, including a UAV strike on an external radiation monitoring laboratory at the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant on May 4. Additionally, the Zaporizhzhia plant recently suffered its thirteenth loss of external power supply since the war began. The IAEA had previously dispatched a mission to Ukraine in early May to assess the stability of electrical substations supporting these vital facilities. The agency continues to monitor the situation closely, warning that such military activities pose severe risks to nuclear infrastructure and public safety.