A drone strike hit the cooling tower of the Novovoronezh Nuclear Power Plant in central Russia overnight from Monday to Tuesday, but there was no impact on nuclear safety, according to the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Russia’s state nuclear power operator, Rosenergoatom, reported that a combat drone, allegedly launched by Ukrainian forces, was intercepted and detonated near the cooling tower of the plant. The operator stated that the drone was "suppressed by technical means" and exploded on impact, causing no damage or injuries. Operations at the facility were not affected.

The IAEA confirmed via a statement on X (formerly Twitter) that it had been informed of the incident and noted that radiation levels remained unchanged. The agency’s director general, Rafael Grossi, reiterated that nuclear power plants must not be targeted under any circumstances.

Rosenergoatom condemned the incident, calling it "another act of aggression by the Ukrainian Armed Forces against Russian nuclear power plants." Ukraine has not yet commented on the allegation.

Kyiv has recently intensified attacks on Russian energy and industrial infrastructure, framing them as a response to ongoing Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities that have disrupted power and heating for millions.

The incident adds to mounting concerns over the safety of nuclear sites during the conflict. Both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of targeting such facilities since the war began more than three years ago.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant—under Russian control since early 2022—remains disconnected from the national power grid and is currently dependent on backup generators to run critical cooling and safety systems.