Russian drone strikes Chernobyl, fire extinguished

A Russian drone attack struck the radiation shelter over the damaged reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

The incident, which occurred overnight, targeted the shelter of the destroyed former fourth power unit, sparking a fire that has since been extinguished. Zelensky noted that as of Friday morning, there had been no increase in radiation levels at the plant, and Russia has yet to comment on the attack.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that its team at the Chernobyl site heard an explosion around 01:50 on the night of 13-14 February, coming from the New Safe Confinement roof, which covers reactor 4 of the former Chernobyl NPP.

“During the night of 13-14 Feb, at around 01:50, IAEA team at the Chornobyl site heard an explosion coming from the New Safe Confinement, which protects the remains of reactor 4 of the former Chornobyl NPP, causing a fire. They were informed that a UAV had struck the NSC roof.”

The agency was informed that a UAV had struck the NSC roof, prompting an immediate response by fire safety personnel and vehicles. No casualties were reported, the IAEA added.

The incident has raised concerns about the security of the Chernobyl site, a symbol of nuclear disaster and an area still under close international scrutiny. Both Ukrainian authorities and the IAEA say they will continue to monitor the situation closely, ensuring that any potential escalation does not compromise the long-term stability of the site.

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