A fire broke out at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant in western Russia on Sunday after a Ukrainian drone strike, Russian officials confirmed. The incident, which occurred near the Russia-Ukraine border, raised initial fears of a radiation leak but authorities assured that radiation levels remain stable and pose no threat to public safety.
According to the facility’s administration, Russian air defense units intercepted a Ukrainian drone targeting the plant. The “device detonated” upon impact, sparking a blaze at the site. Emergency fire crews were swiftly deployed, and the fire was brought under control within a short time. Officials emphasized that there were no casualties reported.
However, the strike did temporarily affect the plant’s operating capacity. While the extent of the damage to infrastructure has not been disclosed, plant authorities noted that the disruption did not compromise the safety systems or lead to any radiation leakage. “Radiation levels at the industrial site and in surrounding areas remain unchanged, corresponding to natural background levels,” the administration said in a statement on social media.
The Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, located west of the city of Kursk and close to the Ukrainian border, is one of Russia’s key energy facilities. It currently operates Soviet-era RBMK reactors, similar in design to those once used at the Chernobyl facility, making security concerns particularly sensitive.
Sunday’s incident is the latest in a series of drone attacks that have struck deep inside Russian territory since the escalation of hostilities with Ukraine. While both sides continue to target critical infrastructure, strikes on nuclear plants raise heightened international concern due to the potential consequences of even a minor safety breach.
Authorities confirmed that security at the Kursk plant has been further tightened following the incident.
