On Friday, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that a Russian drone struck the New Safe Confinement shell protecting the Chernobyl nuclear reactor.
The shell that covers Reactor 4 was placed there in 2016. On April 26, 1986, Reactor 4 overheated and melted through its protective barriers. Thirty operators and firemen died within three months of the accident; more than 100 people were injured by radiation, and millions of people were exposed to radioactive fallout. “The resulting steam explosion and fires released at least 5% of the radioactive reactor core into the environment, with the deposition of radioactive materials in many parts of Europe,” the World Nuclear Association (WNA) has stated.
The WNA noted of the drone hit on the reactor: “The IAEA said that its onsite team heard an explosion at around 01:50 local time. The drone breached the external steel cladding of the NSC, but the IAEA said that there was no indication of a breach in the NSC’s inner containment.”
“Last night, a Russian attack drone with a high-explosive warhead struck the shelter protecting the world from radiation at the destroyed 4th power unit of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant,” Zelensky wrote on X. “This shelter was built by Ukraine together with other countries of Europe and the world, together with America – all those committed to real security for humanity. The only country in the world that attacks such sites, occupies nuclear power plants, and wages war without any regard for the consequences is today’s Russia. This is a terrorist threat to the entire world.”
“The fire has been extinguished. As of now, radiation levels have not increased and are being constantly monitored,” he continued. “Every night, Russia carries out such attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure and cities. Russia continues to expand its army and shows no change in its deranged, anti-human state rhetoric. This means that Putin is definitely not preparing for negotiations — he is preparing to continue deceiving the world. That is why there must be unified pressure from all who value life – pressure on the aggressor. Russia must be held accountable for its actions.”
Last night, a Russian attack drone with a high-explosive warhead struck the shelter protecting the world from radiation at the destroyed 4th power unit of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant.
This shelter was built by Ukraine together with other countries of Europe and the world,… pic.twitter.com/mLTGeDYgPT
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 14, 2025
