On August 23, a Ukrainian drone was shot down by air defense systems near the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant. The drone fell onto an auxiliary transformer, detonated, and sparked a fire that has been extinguished with no injuries. The explosion reduced unit three of the plant to 50 percent capacity. Radiation levels at the site and surrounding area have not exceeded normal limits. The damaged transformer is not part of the nuclear section of the plant. Kursk NPP lies 40 kilometers west of Kursk city on the Seim River and has units from 1976 to 1985. The IAEA has repeatedly warned about the dangers of fighting around nuclear plants since February 2022.
"A combat unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) belonging to the Armed Forces of Ukraine was shot down by air defense systems near the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant," the press service said in a statement on Telegram. "Upon impact, the drone detonated, resulting in damage to an auxiliary transformer," the statement said. There were no injuries, but as a result of the explosion, unit three of the plant was reduced to 50 percent capacity, the press service said.
The story was first reported by Russia's federal television network REN TV. It reported that that the transformer is not a part of the nuclear section of the plant, citing the plant's press service. It was not immediately clear in which part of the plant the fire occurred. Kursk NPP is 40 kilometers west of Kursk city, the regional capital, on the bank of Seim River. The first unit was launched in 1976.
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