Russia’s air defence forces successfully shot down a Ukrainian drone targeting the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant on Sunday, but the strike still caused damage to the facility. According to Interfax, the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) exploded on impact after being intercepted, hitting an auxiliary transformer and disrupting some of the plant’s supporting systems. The plant’s press service later confirmed the attack in a statement on Telegram, noting, “A combat unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) belonging to the Armed Forces of Ukraine was shot down by air defence systems near the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant. Upon impact, the drone detonated, resulting in damage to an auxiliary transformer.” Although the strike raised concerns about nuclear safety, Russian authorities stressed that the reactor units remained secure and there was no immediate threat to workers or nearby residents.
Fire Reported, But No Safety Threat
Russian state-owned television channel REN TV reported that a fire broke out following the blast. The blaze occurred in a transformer unit located outside the nuclear section of the facility. Authorities stressed that there were no risks to workers, residents, or the plant’s core systems, ensuring that the nuclear operations remained unaffected.
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Escalation Despite Diplomatic Efforts
The drone strike is part of a recent surge in cross-border attacks. This escalation comes shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy both met with US President Donald Trump in an attempt to find a path toward ending the war, which has now dragged on for over three years.
Russian Strikes Kill Civilian in Ukraine
While Russia dealt with the Kursk drone incident, its own forces carried out strikes in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. According to Kyiv Independent, Russian KAB aerial bombs and drones hit the Synelnykove district, destroying seven houses and damaging a bus. The attack killed one person and injured nine others. A gas pipeline and power line were also struck during the bombardment.
Missiles Hit Western Ukraine
On August 21, Russia carried out yet another large-scale aerial assault on western Ukraine, unleashing a wave of missiles and drones on densely populated areas. The strikes caused widespread destruction, leaving one civilian dead and at least 26 others injured, according to Ukrainian officials. One of the hardest-hit locations was an electronics plant in Mukachevo, where massive fires broke out following direct hits, engulfing parts of the facility in flames and severely disrupting operations. Emergency crews worked for hours to contain the blaze and rescue trapped workers. Beyond Mukachevo, the bombardment also inflicted damage across several western cities, including Lviv, where residential buildings, infrastructure, and parts of the power grid were struck. Ukrainian authorities condemned the attack as another deliberate attempt by Moscow to cripple industrial capacity and civilian infrastructure, adding to the mounting humanitarian toll of the conflict.
Also Read: Shifting Frontlines: Russia Claims More Ground In Donetsk As Ukraine Pushes Back
