Ukraine denies striking Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

Ukraine launched fresh overnight strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, setting fire to a fuel storage facility in the Rostov region and damaging an oil refinery in Saratov, according to Russian officials. Ukraine has intensified attacks on Russia's oil and gas sector in recent months, arguing the energy industry funds and fuels Moscow's more than four-year invasion. Meanwhile, Ukraine denied Russian claims that a Ukrainian drone struck the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe's largest, calling the allegation "yet another propaganda ploy." Russia's state nuclear company Rosatom reported that a Ukrainian kamikaze drone struck the turbine hall of Power Unit No. 6 at the Zaporizhzhia plant on Saturday, creating a hole in the wall and causing a detonation. Rosatom CEO Alexei Likhachev accused Ukraine of a "deliberate" attack, though he said the main equipment was not damaged. Ukraine's military firmly rejected the claim, stating it had neither struck nor targeted the facility and adheres to international humanitarian law regarding nuclear facilities. Ukraine's foreign ministry noted the illogic of striking its own nuclear plant on its own territory. International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi expressed "serious concern" over the reported strike and reiterated that attacking nuclear sites is like playing with fire. The Zaporizhzhia plant, captured by Russian forces in the early weeks of the 2022 invasion, has remained near the front lines in southern Ukraine and has repeatedly come under fire, sparking fears of a nuclear accident. Moscow and Kyiv have repeatedly accused each other of targeting the facility. In the broader conflict, Ukraine's air force reported shooting down 212 of 299 drones launched by Russia overnight, while Russian drones struck the city of Dnipro and an oil refinery in Ukraine's Rivne region, causing fires but no injuries.