Drone Strike Hits Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Staff Ahead of IAEA Visit

A drone struck a bus stop near the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant on August 18, 2026, killing one specialist and wounding 17, mostly plant employees, per Russian reports confirmed by the IAEA. No nuclear damage occurred, but the agency urged halting attacks on nuclear facilities. The strike preceded an IAEA inspection. The plant's reactors have been shut since Russia seized it in 2022. Previous drone attacks killed the chief engineer on July 15 and hit infrastructure on August 2, targeting staff needed to maintain cold shutdown safety protocols.