Malfunctioning Ukrainian drone sparks transient blaze at Russian nuclear energy facility
In a recent development, a drone attack on the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, located near the Russia-Ukraine border and west of Kursk city, has caused some damage to the facility. The attack was reportedly carried out on Ukraine's Independence Day, August 24, 2025.
According to Russian sources, the fire resulting from the attack has led to unit three of the plant being reduced to 50% capacity. The incident appears to be part of an overnight wave of Ukrainian drone assaults targeting Russia's energy infrastructure.
In a separate incident, about 10 Ukrainian drones were downed over the port of Ust-Luga in Russia's Leningrad region. The fire at the Novatek-operated terminal in Ust-Luga, caused by a Ukrainian drone being shot down near the plant, is currently being handled by firefighters and emergency services. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported in either incident.
The Ust-Luga complex processes gas condensate into light and heavy naphtha, jet fuel, fuel oil, and gasoil, enabling the company to ship oil products and gas condensate to international markets.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has previously warned of the dangers of fighting around nuclear plants following Russia's military offensive on Ukraine in February 2022. The United Nations nuclear watchdog confirmed normal radiation levels near the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant on Sunday.
Ukraine has been conducting strikes inside Russia, claiming they are in response to Russia's continued attacks on Ukraine and are aimed at destroying infrastructure crucial to Moscow's military efforts. Russian units reportedly destroyed a total of 95 Ukrainian drones overnight over 13 regions, including Leningrad and Samara, as well as the Russian-annexed Crimean Peninsula, according to the Russian defence ministry.
Despite the incidents, the radiation background at the industrial site of the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant and the surrounding area remains normal. The fire at unit three has not resulted in any radiation leakage, ensuring the safety of the surrounding population of approximately 440,000 people.
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