Drone strikes cooling tower at Russian nuclear plant

A drone struck the cooling tower of a reactor unit at Russia's Kursk nuclear power plant on September 17, 2026, the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed. The attack marked the latest in a series of incidents targeting nuclear facilities amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The IAEA stated that the reactor unit was operating at the time of the strike, but its operating mode remained unchanged and no fire was reported. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi declared that attacks on nuclear facilities are unacceptable wherever they occur, as they endanger nuclear safety and security. He reiterated his call for maximum military restraint to prevent the risk of a nuclear accident. The agency did not identify who launched the drone or provide an assessment of the damage. Russian state sources attributed the strike to Ukraine, while Kyiv made no immediate claim of responsibility. The uncertainty over attribution highlights the challenges in verifying incidents in the conflict zone. This is not the first time the Kursk plant has been targeted.