In a concerning development on Sunday, Ukrainian armed drones launched a strike on one of the six nuclear reactors at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, which is under Russian control. The head of the UN's atomic watchdog agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi, strongly condemned the attack, stating that such actions significantly increase the risk of a major nuclear accident.

Confirming at least three direct hits on the main reactor containment structures, Grossi expressed his grave concerns over the situation. He highlighted that this was the first attack of its kind since November 2022 when he established five fundamental principles to prevent serious nuclear accidents with radiological consequences.

Plant officials acknowledged the military drone attack, stating that the fifth dome of the plant's sixth power unit was struck. Fortunately, there was no critical damage or casualties reported, and post-strike radiation levels at the plant remained normal. However, Russian state-owned nuclear agency Rosatom later stated that three individuals were wounded in the "unprecedented series of drone attacks," particularly when a drone hit an area close to the site's canteen.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recognized the drone strike and confirmed its physical impact at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The IAEA also mentioned one reported casualty. While the damage to Unit 6 did not compromise nuclear safety, the agency viewed it as a serious incident that could potentially undermine the integrity of the reactor's containment system.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been caught in the crossfire since Russian troops entered Ukraine in 2022 and seized control of the facility. The IAEA has repeatedly expressed concerns about the plant, which is Europe's largest, due to fears of a potential nuclear catastrophe. Both Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of attacking the power plant, which is located near the front lines of the conflict.

It is worth noting that the plant's six reactors have been offline for several months. However, it still requires power and qualified personnel to operate critical cooling systems and other safety features.

In addition to the attack on the power plant, further violence erupted in the region. Three individuals tragically lost their lives when their house was hit by a Russian projectile in the front-line town of Huliaipole in Ukraine's occupied southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, according to regional Governor Ivan Fedorov. Furthermore, two people were wounded in another shelling incident in Huliaipole later on Sunday.

Separately, three individuals were injured in Russian shelling in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region, as reported by regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov. Across the border in Russia, a young girl tragically died and four other individuals were wounded when the debris of a downed Ukrainian drone fell on a car carrying a family of six in the Belgorod region.

The escalation in violence and the targeted attack on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant raise serious concerns about the safety and stability of the region. The international community, particularly the UN and the IAEA, continues to closely monitor the situation, urging all parties involved to exercise restraint and seek a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.