Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that a Russian drone targeted the nuclear power plant at Chernobyl on Thursday night. He stated that the drone, equipped with a high-explosive warhead, struck the protective shelter over the damaged fourth reactor unit. Fortunately, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service confirmed that radiation levels remained within normal limits despite the incident. Zelensky highlighted that while the concrete shelter sustained significant damage, a fire that resulted from the strike was promptly extinguished.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) noted that its team at the site heard an explosion around 2 am local time, which was caused by the drone hitting the roof of the New Safe Confinement structure. The IAEA reassured that radiation levels were being closely monitored without any increase.
On the same night, Ukrainian military reports indicated that Russia launched 133 drones targeting various locations in Ukraine, with 73 intercepted and 58 failing to reach their objectives. Zelensky remarked on the continual drone assaults on Ukrainian infrastructure, suggesting that President Putin is not seeking negotiations but rather preparing for further aggression. This incident underscores the ongoing tensions in the region, particularly in light of the historical significance of the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.