The Ministry of Defense reported the interception of drones near the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant

Air defense systems intercepted nine Ukrainian drones near the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, reported at the Russian Ministry of Defense.

Russian forces detected and intercepted a copter-type UAV at about 12:30 Moscow time, the agency clarifies. As the ministry stated, Kyiv “continues provocations with the aim of creating a threat of a man-made disaster” at the Zaporizhia NPP, as well as to disrupt the rotation of IAEA staff at the plant.

The Zaporozhye NPP has been under Russian control since the end of February 2022. In October 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered that the plant’s facilities be taken into federal ownership and the creation of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise “Zaporozhye NPP” to ensure the safety of nuclear energy facilities.

In August, Advisor to the General Director of Rosenergoatom Concern Renat Karchaa declaredthat the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant remains a target for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which daily make at least 10 attempts to attack the station with drones. According to him, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are also trying to identify vulnerabilities in the defense of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant using shelling.

At the same time, the power units themselves are reliably protected, and a reliable protection system has been created around the station’s vulnerable areas.