A Ukrainian drone attack sparked a short-lived fire at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, damaged an auxiliary transformer and led to reduction in the operating capacity at one of the plant's units, the plant's press service reported early on Sunday.
"A combat drone belonging to the Armed Forces of Ukraine was shot down by air defense systems near the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant," the press service said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.
"Upon impact, the drone detonated, resulting in damage to an auxiliary transformer."
The press service added that there were no injuries, but as a result of the denotation, unit three of the plant was reduced to 50% capacity. The destroyed drone also sparked a fire that has since been extinguished, the press service said.
Radiation levels at the site and in the surrounding area have not exceeded normal limits, the press service added.
Responses to the incident
There was no immediate comment from Ukraine. Kyiv has said its strikes inside Russia are in response to Russia's continued attacks on Ukraine and are aimed at destroying infrastructure deemed crucial to Moscow's overall military efforts.
Reuters could not independently verify the report. It was not immediately clear at what part of the plant the fire occurred.
Earlier, Russia's federal free-to-air television network REN TV reported, citing the plant's press service, that the transformer is not a part of the nuclear section of the plant.
Kursk governor says Ukrainian attack is threat to nuclear safety
Ukrainian attacks on the Kursk nuclear plant create a threat to nuclear safety, Alexander Khinshtein, the regional acting governor said on Sunday.
"They are a threat to nuclear safety and a violation of all international conventions," Khinshtein wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
UN nuclear watchdog confirms normal radiation levels near Kursk nuclear power plant
The United Nations nuclear watchdog on Sunday confirmed normal radiation levels near the Kursk nuclear power plant 60 km (38 miles) from the border with Ukraine.
"Monitoring confirms normal radiation levels near Kursk NPP," the International Atomic Energy Agency said in post on X.
Russia's defense ministry said at least 95 Ukrainian drones had been intercepted across more than a dozen Russian regions on August 24, the day Ukraine celebrates its declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
The Kursk nuclear power plant said that air defenses shot down a drone that detonated near the plant just after midnight, damaging an auxiliary transformer and forcing a 50% reduction in the operating capacity at reactor No. 3.