A Russian drone strike has damaged the protective shield covering Chernobyl's damaged nuclear reactor, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The overnight attack caused a fire at the nuclear plant, which was quickly extinguished by emergency responders.
The massive concrete and steel structure, measuring 275m wide and 108m tall, was built to contain radiation from the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster. The $1.6 billion shield was designed to prevent radioactive material from leaking over the next century.
While Zelensky described the damage as "substantial," radiation levels both inside and outside the facility remain normal and stable, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The agency responded rapidly to the explosion but reported no casualties.
Russia has denied responsibility for the attack, stating its military does not target Ukrainian nuclear infrastructure. However, Zelensky shared video footage appearing to show damage to the giant protective dome covering the remains of Reactor No. 4, which exploded in 1986.
Nuclear expert Prof Jim Smith from the University of Portsmouth told the BBC that while the strike was "horrendous," he is not worried about radiation risks. He explained that a thick concrete sarcophagus beneath the outer shield contains radioactive particles, and a drone strike would not be powerful enough to breach this protective layer.
The incident occurs amid heightened tensions around Ukraine's nuclear facilities, including recent military activity near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southern Ukraine. The IAEA remains on "high alert," with Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi emphasizing there is "no room for complacency."
The attack comes just before Zelensky's scheduled meeting with US Vice-President JD Vance in Munich, where the ongoing war in Ukraine is expected to be a central topic of discussion at a major security conference.
The 1986 Chernobyl disaster resulted in 31 immediate deaths according to official records, with the UN estimating that 50 deaths can be directly attributed to the catastrophe. Experts predicted in 2005 that an additional 4,000 people might eventually die due to radiation exposure.