Daijiworld Media Network - Kyiv

Kyiv, Aug 3: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has raised fresh concerns over safety at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) after its team reported hearing explosions and witnessing smoke from a nearby location on Saturday.

In an official statement, the nuclear watchdog confirmed that one of the plant’s auxiliary facilities was hit. “The auxiliary facility is located 1,200 metres from the ZNPP’s site perimeter, and the IAEA team could still see smoke from that direction in the afternoon,” the agency said.

Though the plant itself remains unaffected for now, the proximity of the attack has once again spotlighted the dangers faced by Europe’s largest nuclear facility, which has been at the heart of global concern since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began.

The IAEA has consistently warned that military activity in and around the plant could lead to catastrophic consequences. Investigations into the source of the explosions are ongoing.