A Ukrainian drone hit the radiation containment shelter at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant overnight, causing significant damage, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. The incident occurred during a gathering of top U.S., Ukrainian, and European officials at the Munich Security Conference to discuss the war in Ukraine.
The New Safe Confinement, a $1.57 billion structure completed in 2019, was damaged by a Russian drone that flew at an altitude of 85 meters, Zelenskyy said. The shelter is designed to contain lingering radiation from the site of the world’s worst civil nuclear catastrophe in 1986.
Ukraine’s emergency services spokesperson, Svitlana Vodolaha, confirmed the attack caused damage to the shelter in a couple of areas. Experts will verify the extent of the damage, which was first reported by Ukrainian officials on Friday.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed Ukraine’s claim as a “provocation,” saying Russia does not attack nuclear infrastructure. The incident has sparked outrage among international leaders, with U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance and other officials expressing concern over Russia’s actions.
The damage to the shelter is significant, according to Zelenskyy, who described the incident as a threat to nuclear security. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia, which have been at odds since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.
Source: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2025/02/14/chernobyl-nuclear-plant-drone/78596958007