Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said a Russian drone struck the destroyed nuclear power plant at Chernobyl on Thursday night,
CNN reports.
Ukraine’s State Emergency Service later said that the radiation background limits remain within normal limits.
“A Russian attack drone with a high-explosive warhead struck the shelter protecting the world from radiation at the destroyed 4th power unit” at the plant, Zelensky said on X.
The concrete shelter that covers the unit was damaged, Zelensky added, and a fire was extinguished. “Radiation levels have not increased and are being constantly monitored. According to initial assessments, the damage to the shelter is significant,” Zelensky said.
Video posted by Zelensky on X showed a bright pulse of light emanate from a large structure, followed by a tower of smoke that billowed into the night sky.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said on X that shortly before 2 a.m. local time its team at the Chernobyl site “heard an explosion coming from the New Safe Confinement, which protects the remains of reactor 4 of the former Chernobyl NPP, causing a fire.”
“They were informed that a UAV [drone] had struck the NSC roof,” the IAEA added.
