KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a Russian drone attack early on Wednesday (Oct 25) in the western Khmelnitskyi region had probably targeted the area’s nuclear power station.
The attack shattered windows at the plant and injured 20 people.
The International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, said blasts from the drone attack did not affect the plant’s operations or its connection to the grid. Power was temporarily cut to some off-site radiation monitoring stations.
In his nightly video address, Zelenskyy said the attack provided yet more evidence that tougher sanctions were needed against Russia.
“It is most likely that the target for these drones was the Khmelnitskyi nuclear power station,” he said.
“The shock wave from the explosion shattered windows, including on the nuclear power station’s premises.”
Zelenskyy said every Russian strike, “especially those daring enough to target nuclear power stations and other critical facilities, serves as an argument that pressure on the terrorist state is insufficient.”
Regional governor Serhiy Tyurin gave a more complete picture of the extent of the damage, saying more than 1,700 buildings sustained damage.
Tyurin, in a statement posted on Telegram, said these included 282 apartment blocks, more than 1,400 private homes, 41 educational institutions and six healthcare buildings.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, in a statement, said: “The fact that numerous windows at the site were destroyed shows just how close it was. Next time, we may not be so fortunate.”
