On the night of April 17, 2025, Russian air defense forces neutralized a Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) near the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) located in Energodar. According to representatives of the plant, the drone was shot down over the site where the world's only full-scale reactor hall simulator, used for operator training, is located. The incident did not result in casualties or damage, and the radiation background remained normal. Inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) present at the facility were promptly informed of the incident. The NPP administration emphasized that the plant continues to operate normally, and security measures have been strengthened to prevent such threats.

The Zaporizhzhya NPP, the largest in Europe, remains in the spotlight due to the ongoing conflict. The facility, controlled by Russian forces since March 2022, has been repeatedly attacked, raising concerns among the international community. A unique simulator located on the plant’s premises plays a key role in training personnel by simulating the operation of a reactor hall in real conditions. Its damage could have seriously complicated the training of specialists, but fortunately the attack was prevented.