Russian Drone Strikes Chernobyl’s Protective Shelter, Ukraine Says
A Russian drone struck the protective confinement shell of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday. The attack, which occurred overnight, caused a fire that has since been extinguished. According to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service, radiation levels remain normal.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that its team at Chernobyl heard an explosion around 1:50 a.m. local time and later learned that a drone had hit the New Safe Confinement (NSC) roof. The structure was built in 2016 to contain radiation from Reactor 4, which exploded in 1986 in one of the world’s worst nuclear disasters. The agency stated there was "no indication of a breach" in the inner containment shell.
Despite the attack, experts believe the risk of radiation exposure is low. Prof. Jim Smith from the University of Portsmouth explained that the NSC is reinforced by a thick concrete sarcophagus, which shields radioactive particles from escaping. A drone strike, he said, is unlikely to cause a significant breach.
Russia has denied involvement, claiming its military does not target nuclear infrastructure. “Any claims that this was the case do not correspond to reality,” Russian officials said. However, Zelenskyy posted a video showing a bright flash followed by smoke rising from the structure. He called the attack an example of Russia’s continued aggression and dismissed any possibility of peace talks.
This attack was part of a larger overnight assault on Ukraine, with Ukrainian officials reporting that 133 drones were launched across the country. Of these, 73 were shot down, and 58 failed to reach their targets. The strikes came just before the Munich Security Conference, where Zelenskyy is set to meet U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
The IAEA has expressed concern about increasing military activity near Ukraine’s nuclear sites, particularly the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest and one of the ten largest in the world. The agency remains on “high alert” following the Chernobyl strike. Rafael Grossi, the IAEA director general, stated that there is “no room for complacency” when it comes to nuclear safety.
Zelenskyy has called for “unified pressure” from the international community to hold Russia accountable. He emphasized that Russia’s continued strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure show that President Vladimir Putin “is definitely not preparing for negotiations.”
The Chernobyl incident follows months of rising tensions surrounding Ukraine’s nuclear facilities. In December, Ukraine and Russia accused each other of attacking an IAEA convoy heading to the Zaporizhzhia plant. Grossi condemned the incident as “unacceptable” and urged both sides to prevent a potential nuclear catastrophe.
As the war nears its third year, nuclear safety remains a critical concern. While Chernobyl's protective structures held firm this time, experts warn that continued attacks on Ukraine’s nuclear sites could lead to disaster.
