A drone strike has hit the cooling tower designated for unit 2 of the Kursk-II NPP in Kurchatov. The regional governor, Alexander Khinshtein, reported the strike on his Max channel, noting that because this specific section of the facility is still under development, the cooling tower system has not yet been put into operation. There have been no reported injuries, structural failures, or negative environmental or radiological consequences. Russian air defence systems reportedly detected and neutralised 12 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) heading toward Kurchatov during a wave of attacks.
Kursk-II will replace the currently operating Kursk NPP, which comprises four ageing RBMK reactors (two of which are now closed) with four new units comprising Generation 3+ VVER-TOI reactors. Unit 1 began commercial operation at the end of April. Unit 2 is expected to begin operation in 2027, and the construction and commissioning of units 3&4 are planned for 2042. The older RBMK units as especially vulnerable to attack as they have no hardened containment.
The Kursk Nuclear Power Plant (Kursk NPP) has been the target of several military actions and drone strikes. The most notable incident occurred in August 2025 when a drone detonated and damaged an auxiliary transformer, sparking a structural fire that had to be contained by emergency teams. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) monitored the event and confirmed that radiation levels remained normal.
