Safety · Sunday, October 11, 2026
Drones hit buildings inside Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, and the U.N. nuclear watchdog warns its backup diesel is running low
Added 8:35 a.m. ET, Oct. 11
The File desk · Oct 11, 2026, 12:35 PM UTC
Status
Confirmed. Everything here comes from the International Atomic Energy Agency's Update 370, dated Oct. 9, read on iaea.org.
- Confirmed
On Oct. 5, the agency's team at the plant was told of a reported drone attack on a laboratory and utility building and a radioactive waste building inside the plant's protected area, about 200 meters from reactor units (Update 370).
- Confirmed
Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said depleted diesel reserves raise the risk to nuclear safety if the plant loses outside power again, and that more diesel must reach the site before winter (Update 370).
Drones hit buildings inside the protected area of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant on Oct. 5, the International Atomic Energy Agency says. Its chief, Rafael Mariano Grossi, also warned that the plant's diesel reserves, which run backup generators if outside power is cut, are depleted.
The agency's team at the plant was told of a drone attack, between midnight and 12:30 a.m., on a laboratory and utility building and a radioactive waste building. Both sit inside the plant's protected area, about 200 meters from reactor units. Grossi called attacks on nuclear plants and their staff unacceptable, and asked for prompt access so the agency can check the damage itself.
"The depleted reserves increase the risk that nuclear safety is challenged in the event of another loss of off-site power," Grossi said. He said more diesel must reach the site before winter. Agency teams at Ukraine's other nuclear sites continue to report frequent military activity nearby.
What is still unknown or disputed
- How much damage the drones did. The agency had asked for access to see for itself.
- When more diesel will reach the plant.
Primary sources
Every claim in this story is drawn from the documents below. If a fetch failed, that is recorded on the card.
Source 1
Update 370 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine
International Atomic Energy Agency · October 9, 2026
The depleted reserves increase the risk that nuclear safety is challenged in the event of another loss of off-site power
https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/update-370-iaea-director-general-statement-on-situation-in-ukraine