Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed that a Russian drone struck the already-destroyed Chernobyl nuclear power plant late Thursday.
Despite the incident, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service confirmed that radiation levels remain within normal limits.
“A Russian attack drone with a high-explosive warhead struck the shelter protecting the world from radiation at the destroyed 4th power unit,” Zelensky wrote on X. The attack damaged the concrete structure that encases the reactor, igniting a fire that was later extinguished. “Radiation levels have not increased and are being constantly monitored. According to initial assessments, the damage to the shelter is significant,” he added.
Footage shared by Zelensky showed a flash of light from the structure, followed by smoke rising into the night sky.
The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed the incident, stating on X that their team at the Chernobyl site “heard an explosion coming from the New Safe Confinement, which protects the remains of reactor 4 of the former Chernobyl NPP, causing a fire.”
The IAEA further noted that a drone had struck the roof of the structure just before 2 a.m. local time.
Chernobyl’s Unit 4 reactor, located near Ukraine’s border with Belarus, exploded in 1986, causing one of the world’s worst nuclear disasters.
The reactor was later enclosed in a massive concrete and steel sarcophagus to contain the radiation.
The New Safe Confinement, completed in 2017 by an international coalition, weighs 35,000 tonnes and serves as a protective cover over the reactor.
Thursday night’s attack was part of a larger wave of drone strikes launched by Russia.
The Ukrainian military reported that Russia sent 133 drones across the country, 73 of which were intercepted, while 58 failed to hit their targets.
Drones were shot down in 11 regions across Ukraine, consistent with recent patterns of nightly strikes.
Zelensky concluded his post by highlighting the ongoing threat posed by Russia, saying, “The nightly drone attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure mean that Russian President Vladimir Putin is definitely not preparing for negotiations — he is preparing to continue deceiving the world.”
