Ukrainian officials say a Russian drone strike damaged the protective structure at the Chernobyl nuclear plant, though radiation levels remain normal. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed an explosion at the site, as Ukraine reported a wider wave of drone attacks overnight.
A drone strike, which Ukrainian officials have attributed to Russia, has damaged the protective structure of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant near Ukraine’s border with Belarus. The incident, which took place on Thursday night, targeted the New Safe Confinement covering reactor four, which was destroyed in the 1986 nuclear disaster.
Ukraine’s State Emergency Service confirmed that radiation levels remain within normal limits. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a fire broke out following the strike but was swiftly extinguished, though initial assessments suggest significant damage to the structure.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that its team at the site heard an explosion at around 2 a.m. local time and was later informed that an unmanned aerial vehicle had struck the facility’s roof.
The strike occurred amid a broader wave of drone activity over Ukraine. The country’s military reported that 133 drones were launched overnight, with 73 intercepted and 58 failing to reach their targets.
Zelensky suggested that continued attacks on infrastructure indicate a lack of preparation for peace talks, but there has been no official confirmation of responsibility for the strike. The situation remains under assessment.
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