A Russian drone attack struck the radiation shelter protecting Chernobyl’s damaged nuclear reactor, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
The overnight strike at the site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster sparked a fire that was later extinguished, he added. Despite the attack, the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), confirmed that radiation levels inside and outside Chernobyl remained stable as of Friday morning.
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Russia denied the allegation, stating its military does not target Ukrainian nuclear infrastructure and dismissing claims of involvement as false.
The IAEA reported that fire safety personnel responded within minutes of the explosion, with no casualties reported. The agency remains on "high alert," with its director general, Rafael Mariano Grossi, warning that there is "no room for complacency."
Chernobyl, the site of the 1986 nuclear disaster that sent radioactive material across Europe, is covered by a massive concrete and steel shield designed to prevent further radiation leaks for the next century. The structure, measuring 275 meters (900 feet) wide and 108 meters (354 feet) tall, cost $1.6 billion (£1.3 billion) to construct.
Zelensky posted footage on X showing apparent damage to the shield. However, nuclear expert Prof. Jim Smith from the UK’s University of Portsmouth said the strike was unlikely to pose a major radiation threat, as a thick concrete "sarcophagus" beneath the outer shield protects the most radioactive materials.
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The Ukrainian president claimed the attack proves Russian President Vladimir Putin is “not preparing for negotiations,” referencing a recent claim by former US President Donald Trump that Putin had agreed to talks to end the war.
Zelensky accused Russia of conducting nightly attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure and cities and called for “unified pressure” to hold Moscow accountable.
Later on Friday, Zelensky is set to meet US 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 international security conference.
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