Russian drone hits Chornobyl NPP, damaging 4th reactor confinement

According to IAEA officials, at around 1:50 a.m. on February 14, they heard an explosion near the New Safe Confinement, which encloses the destroyed reactor. The drone crashed into the roof of the containment building, where a fire broke out.

"Fire safety personnel and vehicles responded within minutes. At this moment, there is no indication of a breach in the NSC’s inner containment," the IAEA said.

At the same time, Zelenskyy says that, according to initial estimates, the damage to the shelter is significant.

Radiation levels inside and outside remain normal and stable, and there were no casualties.

"This shelter was built by Ukraine together with other countries of Europe and the world, together with America – all those committed to real security for humanity. 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. This is a terrorist threat to the entire world," Zelenskyy said.

The IAEA’s Director General, Rafael Grossi, said the Chornobyl incident and the recent increase in military activity around the Zaporizhzhia NPP underscored the ongoing risks to nuclear security. He assured that the IAEA remains on high alert.

More about the attack

Overnight, the Russian military attacked Ukraine with 133 Shahed strike drones and decoy drones. The Ukrainian military shot down 73 UAVs, and another 58 were lost from radars.

The Kyiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, Odesa, and Kharkiv oblasts were affected by the enemy attack. In particular, in the Odesa district, the port infrastructure and recreation center were damaged, which are currently out of service.