KYIV/VIENNA - Ukraine's state-run nuclear energy operator Energoatom on Sunday accused Russia of attacking its spent nuclear fuel storage facility near the disused Chernobyl power plant.

According to Energoatom, a drone strike occurred at around 2:10 am local time (2310 GMT Saturday), partially destroying the facility's container-receiving building. The agency said that no spent nuclear fuel was stored in the damaged structure.

A fire covering an area of about 40 square meters was promptly contained and fully extinguished. No casualties among personnel were reported.

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As of Sunday morning, radiation levels at the facility site remain within normal limits.

Russia has not responded to the alleged attack on the facility, which is located around 15 km from the Chernobyl plant, the site of one of the worst nuclear disasters in human history on April 26, 1986. 

In Vienna, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) condemned the drone strike in the Chernobyl exclusion zone, warning that such attacks are "playing with fire" and must never occur.

The IAEA said on social media platform X that it had received information from Ukraine regarding a drone attack on Sunday morning targeting the Central Spent Fuel Storage Facility located within the Chernobyl exclusion zone. According to IAEA experts on site, radiation levels at the facility remained within normal limits.

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An IAEA inspection team assessed the impact of the strike and reported significant structural damage to part of the fuel reception building. The agency's safeguards office housed in the facility also sustained damage.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi described the attack as "extremely concerning," noting that it represented a close call for nuclear safety.

"Attacking a facility with large amounts of nuclear material is like playing with fire, and it must never happen," Grossi said.