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A Russian attack drone carrying what Ukraine described as “a high-explosive warhead” has struck the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, piercing the protective structure over Reactor 4 — the site of the 1986 disaster.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday the damage to the shelter was “significant”, according to initial assessments, but a fire caused by the attack had been extinguished. He added that radiation levels remained stable and were being “constantly monitored”.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said its team at the Chernobyl site “heard an explosion” at about 1.50am local time coming from the safe confinement protecting the remains of Reactor 4. “At this moment, there is no indication of a breach in the inner containment [unit],” the IAEA said.
Completed in 2016, the containment unit is meant to safeguard the damaged nuclear reactor and keep radiation from leaking into the atmosphere.
The latest Russian bombardment comes two days after US President Donald Trump phoned his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to “start negotiations immediately” to end the war.
Following Friday morning’s attack, Zelenskyy dismissed Putin’s claims that Moscow was seeking peace, arguing instead that Moscow was preparing to “continue deceiving the world”.
Zelenskyy, who is set to meet US vice-president JD Vance in Munich later on Friday, called for unified international “pressure on the aggressor”, adding: “Russia must be held accountable for its actions.”
IAEA director-general Rafael Grossi said Friday’s incident and the recent increase in military activity around Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is occupied by Russian forces, underlined persistent nuclear safety risks. “There is no room for complacency, and the IAEA remains on high alert,” he said.
Zelenskyy condemned the attack, saying Russia had been carrying out such strikes on Ukraine’s infrastructure and cities “every night”.
In footage captured by a security camera and shared on social media by the president, an explosion can be seen on the roof of the containment unit. A video filmed by a surveillance drone later on showed a fire caused by the attack and a large hole visible.
Photographs published by Ukraine’s state emergency service purport to show debris from a “Shahed” suicide drone that Iran has provided to Russia’s military and helped Moscow reproduce during the war.
The attack appeared to be part of a broader assault on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, which has been targeted over the past winter months by Russia’s missiles and drones.
Odesa governor Oleh Kiper said a drone strike had also damaged port facilities in the Black Sea coastal region early on Friday. The air force said Russia had launched 133 drones at targets across Ukraine overnight.
