Chernobyl news absolutely nobody needed

A Russian drone has struck the Chernobyl nuclear plant which infamously exploded and still harbours radiation, with a chilling warning issued.

Ukraine has said Russia has committed a “war crime” after a drone strike at the long stricken Chernobyl nuclear power plant, with fears that radioactive substances could be leaking.

The UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said currently radiation levels inside and outside Chernobyl remain normal and stable.

But investigations found the outer building, which was built to prevent any radioactive release from the damaged reactor, had been damaged while it was still determining what had happened to the inner cladding.

Later, the plant’s chief engineer, Oleksandr Titarchuk, said the possibility of radioactive substances leaking “now exists”, the BBC reported.

A blaze burned for several hours after the attack. However, Moscow has denied that an attack took place.

The Ukrainian air force said that Russia had launched more than 100 drones across the country overnight – including attack drones – targeting northern regions of the country where the Chernobyl power plant lies.

The attack comes on the same day as the Munich Security Conference kicks off, where a possible peace plane for Ukraine, is being discussed.

“Last night, a Russian attack drone with a high-explosive warhead struck the cover protecting the world from radiation at the destroyed 4th power unit of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that a Russian drone had struck a cover built to contain radiation at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Picture: Volodymyr Zelensky

The Ukrainian air force reported over 100 drones launched by Russia, targeting northern regions, including near Chernobyl. Picture: Volodymyr Zelensky

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has said the attack was being classified as a war crime.

The SBU said it had found wreckage of a Shahed drone used by Russia in Ukraine attacks.

“For maximum damage, this attack drone was equipped with a high-explosive warhead,” the SBU wrote on social media.

The International Atomic Energy Agency also reported an “explosion” at the site, adding that “radiation levels inside and outside remain normal and stable.”

While the outer steel shell covering the power station was damaged a far thicker concrete mound encasing the reactor was not penetrated.

“Putin is certainly not preparing for negotiations,” said Mr Zelensky on social media.

“The only state in the world that can attack such facilities, occupy the territory of nuclear power plants, and conduct hostilities without any regard for the consequences is today’s Russia. And this is a terrorist threat to the entire world.

“Russia must be held accountable for what it is doing”.

Coming soon after a recent increase in military activity near Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), IAEA’s director general Rafael Mariano Grossi described the attack as “deeply concerning”.

He said it once again demonstrated that nuclear safety remains under constant threat for as long as the conflict continues.

“There is no room for complacency, and the IAEA remains on high alert,” he said.

“I once again call for maximum military restraint around Ukraine’s nuclear sites.”

The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed an explosion at Chernobyl but stated radiation levels are stable. Picture: Volodymyr Zelensky

Russian denials

Russian Government spokesman Dimitry Peskov said he had no information on the explosion but denied Moscow was involved. He blamed the damage on Ukraine.

“The Russian military doesn’t do that. They don’t. This is most likely just another provocation,” he said.

“That’s exactly what the Kyiv regime like to do, and sometimes, in fact, does not shy away from doing.

“There is no question of any strikes on such nuclear infrastructure sites.

“Any claims that this was the case do not correspond to reality. The Russian military does not do this”.

The International Atomic Energy Agency which has had a team deployed on the site since the early stages of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, published images showing the drone on fire after crashing into the covering.

In 1986, a reactor at Chernobyl exploded during a botched safety test, resulting in the world’s worst nuclear accident that sent clouds of radiation across much of Europe and forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate.

Zelensky criticised Russia for attacking nuclear sites, highlighting the potential consequences of such actions. Picture: Volodymyr Zelensky

Soviet authorities initially tried to cover up and then play down the disaster.

A massive concrete and steel cover called a sarcophagus was built over the reactor to contain the radiation.

“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,” Zelensky added in his statement.