Kyiv, Ukraine – A Russian drone strike targeted the radiation shelter protecting the damaged Chernobyl nuclear reactor, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Friday. The attack, which took place overnight, caused a fire that was swiftly extinguished.
The strike hit the site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster, raising immediate concerns over potential radioactive contamination. However, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that radiation levels both inside and outside the plant remained stable.
“No casualties have been reported, and radiation levels have not increased,” Zelensky stated. The Ukrainian leader also posted footage on social media platform X, appearing to show damage to the protective structure shielding the reactor.
IAEA on High Alert
The IAEA, which monitors nuclear safety worldwide, said fire safety personnel and emergency responders arrived at the scene within minutes of the explosion. The agency’s director general, Rafael Mariano Grossi, warned that the situation remains serious.
“We remain on high alert,” Grossi said, emphasizing that there is “no room for complacency” in protecting nuclear facilities amid ongoing hostilities.
The protective shelter over Chernobyl’s reactor, known as the New Safe Confinement, was constructed at a cost of $1.6 billion (£1.3 billion) to prevent radioactive material from leaking into the environment. Measuring 275 meters wide and 108 meters tall, the structure is designed to contain hazardous debris for the next century.
Nuclear expert Prof. Jim Smith from the University of Portsmouth noted that despite the attack, the risk of radiation release remains low. “A drone strike wouldn’t be powerful enough to penetrate the thick concrete sarcophagus beneath the outer shield, which protects radioactive particles from the 1986 explosion,” he told the BBC.
Zelensky Condemns Russia, Calls for Accountability
Zelensky used the attack to criticize Russian President Vladimir Putin, asserting that the strike proves Russia is not interested in peace talks. His comments come shortly after former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Putin had agreed to negotiations to end the war.
“Every night, Russia carries out attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure and cities,” Zelensky said, calling for “unified pressure” from the international community to hold Moscow accountable.
Later on Friday, Zelensky is set to meet U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Munich, where the war in Ukraine is expected to dominate discussions at a major global security summit.
Concerns Over Nuclear Security Grow
The attack on Chernobyl follows growing concerns over military activity around Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest in Europe.
In December, Ukraine and Russia accused each other of targeting an IAEA convoy near the Zaporizhzhia plant, an incident Grossi condemned as “unacceptable.” Last year, a separate attack on the facility heightened fears of a “major nuclear incident,” with both sides trading blame.
Prof. Smith expressed greater concern about Zaporizhzhia than Chernobyl, citing the presence of live nuclear fuel. “Chernobyl remains highly radioactive, but its reactor is not in a ‘hot state’ like Zaporizhzhia’s, where the potential for catastrophe is far greater,” he warned.
The latest attack underscores the ongoing risks posed to Ukraine’s nuclear infrastructure as the war continues with no clear end in sight.