KYIV, Ukraine — A Russian drone strike hit the protective shield surrounding Reactor 4 at the former Chernobyl nuclear power plant in northern Ukraine early Friday morning. The drone, equipped with a high-explosive warhead, caused a fire at the site, which was extinguished by emergency response teams.
Ukrainian officials have reported that radiation levels remain stable, and there have been no reported casualties. President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack, describing it as a “terrorist threat to the entire world.”
The protective confinement shell, built in 2016, was designed to limit the release of radioactivity from Reactor 4, the site of the catastrophic explosion in 1986 that led to one of the worst nuclear disasters in history.
In a statement, the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine confirmed that the inner structure had not been breached and that there was no immediate danger to the surrounding environment. “Our monitoring systems show normal radiation levels, and there are no immediate health risks to the public,” the agency reassured.
The incident has sparked international concern over the potential escalation of conflict in the region and the risks posed to critical infrastructure. Several world leaders have echoed President Zelensky’s call for heightened vigilance and increased efforts to prevent further attacks on nuclear facilities.
Russian authorities have yet to comment on the strike.