Nuclear disaster fears explode as ‘Russian drone strikes Chernobyl power plant’ | World | News
A Russian high-explosive drone hit the Chernobyl nuclear power plant sparking nuclear disaster fears, according to Ukraine‘s President Volodymyr Zelensky.
In a statement, he said: “A Russian strike drone with a high-explosive warhead hit the shelter that protects the world from the radiation of the destroyed 4th power unit of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant this night. Ukraine built this shelter together with other countries in Europe and the world, together with America – with everyone who wants real security for people.”
The Ukrainian Presdent added that the fire had been extinguished, but the damage was still “significant”.
Scientists are monitoring radiation levels to see whether there have been any leaks. Currently the radiation backround remains normal.
The international Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that there had been an attack on the power plant.
IAEA staff reported hearing a thunderous explosion, as the drone hit the sarcophagus proytecting the damaged reactor number 4.
They said that initial inspection of the damage showed there had been no breach to the reactor shell.
The agency also confirmed they had not detected any spike in radion either inside or outside the building, but were continuing to monitor the situation closely.
Chernobyl was at the centre of a catastrophic nuclear disaster in April 1986, after a poorly planned experiment went badly wrong.
As a result, reactor four of the then-Soviet nuclear power plant exploded into a large ball of flames. The explosion blew off its heavy steel and concrete lid, allowing large amounts of radioactive material to be released into the atmosphere.
Millions of acres of forest and farmland were contaminated, and, although many thousands of people were evacuated, hundreds of thousands more remained in contaminated areas.
Overnight on Thursday, Russia launched a barrage of drone attacks on Ukraine, as it continues its campaign of aerial bombardments.
Ukraine‘s military reported that Russia fired 133 drones – 73 were shot down and 58 did not reach their targets.
In his post, Zelensky said the continuing drone attacks showed that Putin “is definitely not preparing for negotiations — he is preparing to continue deceiving the world.”
The attack comes hours before Western leaders are due to gather for the Munich Security Confernece , with Europe’s fate hanging in the balance.
The conference will see meetings between key players, including Zelensky and US Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Ukraine–Russia envoy Keith Kellogg.
