IAEA confirms building damage after Zaporizhzhya plant inspection

IAEA experts found physical damage to buildings at Zaporizhzhya NPP while inspecting the site of a reported October 5 incident. The agency announced its findings on October 9.

RIA Novosti reported that the IAEA team requested access to independently assess the buildings. Its conclusion was based on areas available for inspection, rather than an examination of the entire affected complex.

Inspectors saw broken windows on the first and second floors, accumulations of glass fragments and damage to the road surface measuring about 40 centimeters across. These findings do not establish responsibility for a strike.

Russian officials previously accused Ukrainian forces of attacking a laboratory building and a radioactive waste processing building. They said the laboratory stood about 200 meters from reactor units four and five. The IAEA report confirms physical damage, while attribution of the attack remains a Russian allegation.