Russia says Ukrainian drone struck Zaporizhzhia plant

Russia's state nuclear energy company Rosatom said a Ukrainian drone had struck the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, Europe's largest, causing no damage to key equipment, but leaving a hole in the wall of a turbine hall.

"This afternoon, a Ukrainian kamikaze combat drone struck the turbine hall building of Power Unit No. 6, resulting in a subsequent detonation," Rosatom's head Alexei Likhachev said in a statement.

"The explosion caused no damage to the primary equipment; however, it tore a hole in the turbine hall wall."

There was no immediate comment from Ukraine. Mr Likhachev called the incident "deliberate".

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant was captured by Russia in March 2022 and remains close to the frontline in the southeastern Ukrainian Zaporizhzhia region.

It has occasionally come under fire during the four-year-long war, raising fears of a nuclear accident at the facility.

"We are one step closer to an incident that will most likely affect even those who live far beyond the borders of Russia and Ukraine and still think they are completely safe," Mr Likhachev said.

It comes as Ukrainian drones hit a tanker and an oil depot in southern Russia today, causing fires but no casualties, Moscow said.

Ukraine has stepped up its attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, causing significant damage.

In recent weeks, Kyiv has launched drones into Russia as far as the Urals, as Moscow's full-scale offensive against Ukraine drags on through its fifth year.

Yuri Slyusar, governor of the southern Rostov region, said an oil tanker in the port of Taganrog was hit and that authorities had extinguished a fire.

"No fuel oil leaks have been reported. There are no casualties," he said on Telegram.

Mr Slyusar said around 50 drones were downed over the Rostov region at night. No deaths were reported, he added.

Taganrog is close to eastern Ukraine and the Russian-occupied city of Mariupol.

Authorities in the neighbouring Krasnodar region said an oil terminal in the city of Armavir had caught fire after a drone attack, also claiming no casualties.

Russia also said Ukrainian drones killed two people in its border Belgorod region, regularly hit by cross-border fire.

Russia's Ukraine offensive has turned into Europe's bloodiest conflict since World War II.