Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that a Russian drone attack targeted the Chernobyl nuclear power plant near the border with Belarus. The incident occurred on Thursday night, with the drone striking the shelter of the destroyed 4th power unit at the plant.
Zelensky stated that the concrete shelter protecting the unit was damaged by the high-explosive warhead, resulting in a fire that was promptly extinguished. Fortunately, radiation levels remained within normal limits, and continuous monitoring is in place to ensure safety.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that an explosion was heard from the New Safe Confinement structure at the Chernobyl site, which houses the remains of reactor 4. The IAEA team on-site confirmed that a drone had struck the roof of the structure.
Chernobyl's Unit 4 suffered a catastrophic explosion in 1986, causing widespread radioactive contamination. The damaged reactor was subsequently enclosed in a protective sarcophagus of concrete and steel.
On the same night, the Ukrainian military disclosed that Russia launched 133 drones towards Ukraine, with 73 being successfully intercepted and 58 failing to reach their intended targets. These drone attacks spanned across 11 regions of Ukraine, indicating a significant escalation in hostilities.
Zelensky condemned the attacks as a clear sign that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not seeking peaceful negotiations but rather intends to prolong the conflict. The ongoing drone strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure underscore Putin's deceptive tactics and aggressive stance towards Ukraine.
