Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Worker Killed in Drone Attack, IAEA Says

By AFP Nov. 9, 2026 A Russian soldier stands guard at a checkpoint near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. REUTERS / Alexander Ermochenko A drone strike on Monday killed an employee at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, the UN's nuclear watchdog said. "The IAEA has been informed that one employee was killed in a drone attack today, in the latest incident affecting plant personnel and further endangering nuclear safety and security during the military conflict," the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a post on X. An employee of the nearby Zaporizhzhia thermal power plant, a conventional fossil-fuel power station, was also killed by a drone on Monday, the IAEA said. The Vienna-based agency last reported that an employee was killed in a drone attack at the nuclear plant in late October, reportedly a welder at a repair workshop. IAEA director general Rafael Grossi "strongly condemns the deadly strikes and says they represent unacceptable attacks violating indispensable nuclear safety pillars," the agency said. "All such attacks on nuclear plant workers must stop immediately" and "all nuclear plant personnel must be able to carry out their important work without undue stress or fear," it added. Russian forces captured the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in March 2022 shortly after the launch of the full-scale invasion. Zaporizhzhia is Europe's largest nuclear facility and has repeatedly been at the center of safety concerns during the war. Russia and Ukraine regularly accuse the other of attacking the site, which sits on the banks of the Dnipro River near the front line. IAEA teams have had a permanent presence at the plant since September 2022. Zaporizhzhia's six reactors have been shut down since 2022. Read more about: Zaporizhzhia , Ukraine war , Occupied Ukraine Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more 5 Killed in Ukrainian Strike on Market in Occupied Zaporizhzhia, Pro-Kremlin Official Says Another 18 people were said to have been wounded in the afternoon attack on an open-air market in the city of Tokmak. 1 Min read Russia Says Situation at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Under Control Europe's largest atomic energy plant lost power on Sept. 23, the longest of the 10 outages it has undergone since Russia seized the station. 2 Min read Ukraine, Russia Exchange Fire, at Least 7 Dead The uptick in civilian deaths came as Russian forces are pressing in hard in the eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine. 2 Min read Russian-Backed Official Survives Assassination Attempt in Occupied Ukraine, Colleague Says “Anton was lucky, the main direction of the explosion went past him. He was just grazed,” local pro-Russian politician Vladimir Rogov said. 1 Min read