Projectile event in Ukraine on Tue 16th September 2025

Amid rising tensions and recent shelling incidents, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported new attacks close to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP).

According to IAEA Director Rafael Mariano Grossi, on September 16th, observers detected a series of explosions accompanied by thick black smoke rising from three locations near the facility.

Experts confirmed that artillery shells landed outside the protected zone, approximately 400 meters from the diesel fuel storage, igniting a fire in nearby shrubbery.

The fire was promptly contained, but shelling persisted for over two hours starting from 13:26 local time.

Around 14:30, additional explosions and gunfire were heard, clearly audible from the administrative building of the station.

Currently, due to safety concerns, specialists have not been able to visit the site but plan to do so the following day.

The agency notes that such attacks have become a regular occurrence around Ukrainian nuclear facilities this year, with over one hundred incidents reported.

Thankfully, no casualties or equipment damages have been documented so far.

Grossi emphasizes that these incidents highlight the ongoing threat to nuclear security, with military actions near such critical infrastructure posing risks not only to Ukraine but to the entire world.

During a speech at the IAEA General Conference, he called for maximum restraint and the abandonment of any military activity near nuclear sites, warning that the situation is becoming increasingly dangerous and could lead to disaster if unchecked.

Moreover, reports from other Ukrainian nuclear plants — in Chernobyl, Rivne, South Ukraine, and Khmelnytskyi — indicate a significant rise in military operations over recent weeks.

These developments underscore the urgent need for international vigilance and concerted efforts to prevent catastrophic consequences for nuclear safety and regional stability.