The Federal Security Service (FSB) announced today that "electronic warfare forces suppressed a Ukrainian Spis armed drone near the Smolensk nuclear power plant, preventing an attempted attack on the facility. The enemy continues provocative actions by targeting Russian nuclear power plants,".

The Russian Ministry of Defense also reported intercepting a drone over Smolensk province today. RIA Novosti later published images of what it claimed was debris from the Ukrainian drone after it crashed.

Debris allegedly from the drone that targeted the Smolensk nuclear power plant on 17/8. Photo: RIA Novosti

Debris allegedly from the drone that targeted the Smolensk nuclear power plant on 17/8. Photo: RIA Novosti

Smolensk nuclear power plant management stated that the facility remains fully operational, with no damage to reactors or critical infrastructure.

Ukrainian officials have not yet commented on the reports.

The Smolensk nuclear power plant, a Soviet-era facility located approximately 330 km southwest of Moscow near the Belarusian border, houses three RBMK reactors with a total capacity of 3,000 MW. It is the largest electricity producer in the northwest region within Russia’s unified energy system.

Vu Hoang (Reuters, RIA Novosti)