The UAV of the Armed Forces of Ukraine flew to the power unit of the Smolensk NPP: it was shot down right at the reactor

During a large-scale attack by Russia, the APU drones tried to strike at Smolensk NPP. The drone was shot down near the power unit of the station.

"On September 12, 2025, at 03:52 Moscow time, a combat unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was suppressed by technical means on the territory of the industrial site of the Smolensk NPP in the area of the 3rd power unit," Rosenergoatom reports.

When the UAV fell, it detonated directly near the ventilation pipe of the operating 3rd power unit of the Smolensk NPP, the operator of the Russian NPP said.

"As a result of the attack, several windows of auxiliary premises were knocked out, including a boiler room and a refrigeration station." — added in "Rosenergoatom".

According to him, there are no damage or casualties: "Law enforcement agencies are working on the spot. The safety of operation of the nuclear power plant is ensured. The incident did not affect the operation of the enterprise."

"Currently on At Smolensk NPP, all three power units are operating normally. The total capacity is 3,031 MW. The radiation background at the industrial site of the Smolensk NPP and the adjacent territory has not changed and corresponds to natural values," the operator said.

This is the second case of an attempt by the Ukrainian Armed Forces to strike at the main nuclear power plant facilities in recent times. On August 24, at the Kursk NPP, the air defense forces shot down a combat UAV of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: during the fall, the device detonated, as a result, the transformer was damaged and the power of the station was temporarily reduced.