Chernobyl radiation fears erupt as Russian strike sparks containment blackout | World | News

The Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant was left without electricity and disconnected from Ukraine’s unified power grid on Tuesday (January 20), sparking major concerns about the containment structure that seals the damaged reactor. During a night-time attack on the decommissioned nuclear power plant, Russian strikes damaged energy infrastructure, cutting off all external power to the site. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that several Ukrainian electrical substations, vital to nuclear safety, were affected by the ongoing hostilities.

Power lines supplying other nuclear facilities across the country were also affected. “The IAEA is actively following developments in order to assess impact on nuclear safety,” Rafael Grossi, the IAEA’s director, added. Ukrainian officials added that the significant drone and missile assault in the early hours of Tuesday knocked out power and heating supplies to thousands of homes in Kyiv, with over 5,600 apartment buildings left without heating in temperatures reaching -20C.

This comes after the UN’s nuclear watchdog previously warned the protective shield – built in 2016 – can no longer contain radioactive material due to damage caused by a drone strike in February last year. Ukraine said Russia was behind the attack, but the Kremlin denied responsibility.

The plant was damaged by a drone armed with a warhead, which pierced the outer shell, which is helping prevent radiation leaks from reactor Number Four. Mr Grossi said an inspection in December 2025 revealed that the structure had “lost its primary safety functions, including the confinement capability”. While repairs have been carried out, he added that “comprehensive restoration” was required to “prevent further degradation and ensure long-term nuclear safety”.

Several hours after Tuesday’s attack, Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy said power engineers had successfully restored power to the national grid. Electricity has been restored to critical components, including the containment structure and the spent nuclear fuel storage facility.

“The radiation levels at the industrial site and across the exclusion zone are within safe limits. The plant has sufficient fuel reserves and backup power to maintain operations in case of further attacks,” the Ministry said in a post on Telegram.

It also called for an extraordinary meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors to evaluate the aftermath of the Russian attacks. This was agreed upon by Denys Shmyhal, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Mr Grossi.

Russia‘s latest strike on Chornobyl is part of a pattern of targeting nuclear and energy facilities to destabilise the Ukrainian grid. On January 14, Volodymyr Zelensky declared a national energy emergency following sustained strikes. By Tuesday, over 80% of Ukraine had experienced power outages lasting up to 16 hours a day.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which remains under Russian occupation, is the most significant concern, however, as it is the largest nuclear plant in Europe. It has suffered eight total blackouts since 2022. Russia has reportedly placed military units and armour inside its reactor halls to use the facility as a “nuclear shield,” banking on the fact that Ukraine cannot return fire without risking a meltdown.

Chernobyl was destroyed in 1986 when the plant exploded during a routine safety test at Reactor 4 and sent radiation across Europe. Two workers died in the blast, while a further 28 firemen and plant staff died shortly after from Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS).

The city of Pripyat, home to 50,000 people, was evacuated 36 hours later and a 19-mile radius around the plant remains largely uninhabitable to this day.