Increased military activity near nuclear facilities is underlining the persistent dangers facing nuclear safety and security during the conflict in Ukraine, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director-general Rafael Grossi said, stressing that such military operations must stop to help prevent a serious nuclear accident.

Reports of drone attacks affecting plant personnel and the cities where they live, including the killing of a Zaporizhzhya nuclear power station staff member, together with potential threats to external power supplies, highlight the continuing vulnerability of nuclear facilities and the infrastructure on which they depend.

“Military activity near Ukraine’s nuclear power sites is a stark reminder of the constant threats to nuclear safety and security,” Grossi said.