Russian drone hit nuclear radiation protector Chernobyl in Ukraine

A Russian drone has hit the nuclear radiation protector that covers the damaged Reactor Number 4 at the site of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Ukrainian authorities have said.

The overnight strike at the nuclear plant, which is the site of the world’s worst nuclear accident, caused a fire that has since been extinguished,  Russia has not yet commented.

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Zelenskiy said the explosive warhead fired by a Russian drone struck the shelter “that protects the world from the radiation…of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.”

As of Friday morning, radiation levels had not increased at the plant, Zelenskiy said.

The UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said fire safety personnel and vehicles responded within minutes of an overnight explosion. No casualties were reported, the agency added.

The incident comes just hours before Vice President JD Vance is set to meet Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Munich as the Trump administration pushes for an end to the Russia-Ukraine war.

The Ukrainian president said the attack showed Russia’s disregard for consequences and reiterated his stance that Russian President Vladimir Putin was “definitely not preparing for negotiation,” but rather “preparing to continue deceiving the world.”

Zelenskyy noted the radiation levels at the plant remain normal and authorities will continue to monitor them—before adding that the “damage to the shelter is significant.”

The International Atomic Energy Agency said at around 1:50 a.m. local time, its team at the Chernobyl site “heard an explosion coming from the New Safe Confinement…causing a fire,” adding they were informed this was a drone strike.

In 1986, a catastrophic explosion at Chernobyl sent a plume of radioactive material into the air, triggering a public health emergency across Europe.

Zelenskiy posted footage on X appearing to show damage to the giant shield, made of concrete and steel, which covers the remains of the reactor that lost its roof in the explosion.

The shield is designed to prevent further radioactive material from leaking out over the next century. It measures 275m (900ft) wide and 108m (354ft) tall and cost $1.6bn (£1.3bn) to construct.

Rafael Grossi, IAEA head condemned that attack on his staff as “unacceptable”, stressing that the agency was “working to prevent a nuclear accident during the military conflict”.