A fire broke out at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) in western Russia after Russian air defenses shot down a Ukrainian drone near the facility, the plant’s press service confirmed on Saturday, reports RFE.
According to officials, the drone struck an auxiliary transformer, triggering an explosion and subsequent fire. The blaze was quickly extinguished, and no casualties were reported.
“As a result of the impact, the unmanned aerial vehicle exploded, causing damage to the auxiliary transformer,” the statement read. While the nuclear section of the plant was not affected, the third reactor’s output was reduced to 50% capacity.
Authorities stressed that radiation levels at the site and surrounding areas remain within normal limits.
The incident is part of a wave of Ukrainian drone attacks reported on August 23 across Russian territory, including St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region, where multiple drones were intercepted. The attacks caused significant disruption, including flight delays and cancellations at St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport.
Ukraine has not officially commented on the Kursk incident. In recent months, Kyiv has intensified drone strikes deep inside Russia, targeting energy and military infrastructure in response to ongoing Russian bombardments of Ukrainian cities.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly warned about the risks posed by military operations near nuclear facilities since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The Kursk plant, located about 40 kilometers west of Kursk city on the Seim River, began operations in 1976 and is one of Russia’s key nuclear energy facilities.
