MOSCOW, September 19. /TASS/. A Ukrainian drone detonated upon crashing into a cooling tower at Kursk NPP-2’s Unit 1 on September 17, causing minor damage that has not affected the plant’s operations, Rosatom's press service reported.

"On September 17, a hostile drone detonated after falling onto the cooling tower of Unit 1 at the Kursk NPP-2. The minor damage did not affect operations, and the unit continues to run at 100% capacity. Safety at the nuclear power plant is fully ensured, radiation levels remain unchanged and within natural background limits," the state corporation said.

On Friday, following the strike, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi stressed that any attacks on nuclear facilities are unacceptable and could jeopardize nuclear safety and security.

Kursk NPP-2 is a two-unit facility equipped with innovative Generation III+ VVER-TOI (Water-Water Energetic Reactor - Typical Optimized Informatized) reactors, each with an installed capacity of 1,250 MW. The first unit was synchronized with the grid and reached a capacity of 240 MW on December 31, 2025, before entering commercial operation in late April 2026. The total installed capacity of the two VVER-TOI units will reach approximately 2,510 MW. Each unit is expected to operate normally for 60 years, generating electricity and supplying heat to consumers.