Russians hit protective structure at Chornobyl nuclear power plant – Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a Russian drone armed with a “high-explosive warhead” struck a protective shield over the Chernobyl nuclear plant on February 14, 2025.
Initial assessments show the damage to the shelter is “significant” but that “as of now, radiation levels have not increased”.
“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,” Zelensky wrote in his message on Facebook.
The President also says that Russia is continuing 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,” he said.
Russia has not yet commented.
A reactor explosion at Chernobyl nuclear power station in 1986 spread radiation across Europe. This plant has long been decommissioned but still contains dangerous radioactive material.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said its team on the ground heard an explosion overnight coming from the “New Safe Confinement’, which protects the remains of reactor 4, causing a fire. According to the IAEA, this happened at 01:50 local time on Thursday night.
“At this moment, there is no indication of a breach in the NSC’s inner containment. Radiation levels inside and outside remain normal and stable. No casualties reported. IAEA continues monitoring the situation,” the IAEA reported in a message on social media site X.
Its director general, Rafael Mariano Grossi, added that the incident and a recent increase in military activity around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant underline persistent nuclear safety risks.
“There is no room for complacency, and the IAEA remains on high alert,” he said.
