Moscow, 24 August 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Russian air defences have shot down a Ukrainian combat drone near the Kursk nuclear power plant in the west of the country, state news agency TASS reported on Sunday.

The drone exploded when it crashed and damaged an auxiliary transformer, TASS reported, citing a post on the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant's Telegram social media account. The fire has been extinguished.

The output of unit 3 of the nuclear power plant has been halved and radiation levels are normal, the agency reported.

The Ukrainian side has not yet commented.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly called for nuclear safety rules to be observed as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues.

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi warned, during a visit to the Kursk nuclear power plant a year ago, of the danger of a nuclear incident in the event of fighting directly at the plant.

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