Russia alleged on Sunday that Ukrainian drone attacks caused a fire at a nuclear power station in the western Kursk region, even as Ukraine marked the 34th anniversary of its independence from the Soviet Union.

According to Russian officials, multiple energy and infrastructure facilities were hit overnight. At the nuclear site, a transformer was damaged and briefly caught fire, though no casualties were reported and radiation levels were declared normal. The plant’s press service confirmed the blaze was extinguished quickly.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it was monitoring the reports but had not independently verified them. Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi reiterated that “nuclear facilities must be protected at all times.”

Kyiv has not commented on Moscow’s claims.

Separately, a fire also broke out at the Ust-Luga port in Russia’s Leningrad region — home to a key fuel export terminal — after debris from intercepted drones fell on the site. Regional officials said roughly 10 drones were shot down in the area.

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its forces destroyed 95 Ukrainian drones overnight. At the same time, Ukraine’s air force reported that Moscow launched 72 drones and decoys, as well as a cruise missile, targeting Ukrainian territory. Ukrainian defenses reportedly downed or jammed 48 drones.

The flare-up coincided with Ukraine’s Independence Day commemorations. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, addressing the nation from Kyiv’s Independence Square, pledged resilience and self-determination.
“We are building a Ukraine strong enough to live in peace and security,” he said, stressing that “our future depends on us alone.”

U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg attended the celebrations, receiving Ukraine’s Order of Merit, First Class, from Zelenskyy. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also arrived in Kyiv for talks, while Norway announced nearly $700 million in new military aid, including funding for Patriot air defense systems in partnership with Germany.

Messages of support poured in from global leaders. Pope Leo XIV used his weekly blessing to appeal for peace in Ukraine, calling the country “martyred” and urging an end to the violence. He also sent a personal note to Zelenskyy, assuring Ukrainians of his prayers.

On the battlefield, Russia claimed fresh gains in the Donetsk region, saying its troops had captured two villages in eastern Ukraine.