DISINFO: Ukraine fires drones at nuclear power plant
SUMMARY
As a result of the attack of Ukrainian drones on the Zaporizhzhya NPP, one of the cooling towers of the plant was put out of action. This facility plays a vital role in maintaining the thermal balance of the plant.
The station was attacked by a Ukrainian drone, which could have been launched from Nikopol in the Dnipropetrovsk region. The drone operator had a clear view of where it was hitting. It could have been a strike by two drones.
RESPONSE
The IAEA experts found no confirmation of the pro-Kremlin outlets claims accusing Ukraine of launching drones at the Zaporizhzhia NPP on 11 August 2024.
The IAEA Support and Assistance Mission to Zaporizhzhia (ISAMZ) accessed the cooling tower area on 12 August 2024. Based on the observations, the team assessed that it was unlikely that the primary source of the fire began at the base of the cooling tower, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.
During the team’s visit to the cooling tower, it determined that the damage was most likely concentrated on the interior of the tower at the water nozzle distribution level, located at roughly ten metres high. The team has requested access to the water nozzle distribution level. It could observe the bottom of the water nozzle distribution level from the concrete foundation columns. The team could also see down into the cold-water basin, which is the base of the cooling tower, and has requested to access it as well. The team was not permitted to access these two locations for safety concerns.
Neither tyre nor drone remains were observed during the walkdown, IAEA reported. At that, the team confirmed that there were no significant signs of disturbance of the debris, ash or soot located at the base of the cooling tower.
IAEA says it will continue its investigation into the Zaporizhzhia NPP fire that occured on 11 August 2024. However, so far nothing allows to support the pro-Kremlin outlet claims that "The Ukrainian drone operator had a clear view of where it was "hitting" or "It could have been a strike by two drones.
Since 2022 pro-Kremlin media falsely accused Ukraine of shelling the NPP, including with drones. These accusations against Ukraine are intended to cover-up the Kremlin’s nuclear blackmail against Ukraine and the West, including threats to use tactical nuclear weapons and preparations for a deliberate nuclear catastrophe at the Russia-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
See more disinformation narratives on "Nazis in Ukraine" and war crimes. For background see: disinformation targeting Ukraine.