Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant Shelter Protecting the World from Radiation Has Been Attacked

A blast that was caused by an overnight fire was reported at the New Safe Confinement, a dome located in northern Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that a Russian attack drone recently struck a protective structure at the destroyed fourth reactor of the Chornobyl (also known as Chernobyl) Nuclear Power Plant, which was built to contain radiation.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said the drone strike took place during the early morning of February 14, at around 1:50 a.m., causing a fire. In a statement on X, Zelenskyy confirmed that the fire caused by the drone strike had been extinguished.

He shared security footage, which captured an explosion striking the side of the Chornobyl structure, with a timestamp of 2:02 a.m. The recording also revealed flames breaking out and a hole in the roof, as firefighters worked from within the dome to put out the fire using a hose.

Zelensky highlighted that the attack had caused significant damage to the New Safe Confinement (NSC), a protective dome of the nuclear plant. The IAEA noted that the drone strike damaged the NSC roof.

The president added, "As of now, radiation levels have not increased and are being constantly monitored. According to initial assessments, the damage to the shelter is significant."

Zelenskyy has shared that the shelter allegedly attacked by the Russian Government, was constructed by Ukraine in collaboration with other European countries and the global community, including the U.S., all of whom are dedicated to ensuring genuine security for humanity.

Its main role is to prevent radiation from leaking after the 1986 nuclear disaster. This disaster, the worst nuclear accident in history, occurred when a reactor exploded, spreading radiation across Europe. Then part of the USSR, Ukraine saw a delayed response as Soviet officials downplayed the crisis. A protective shell, the NSC, was later built over the damaged reactor. It was completed in 2018.

Now, after the alleged attack, the Ukrainian president has accused Russia of waging war with complete disregard for the consequences, adding, "This is a terrorist threat to the entire world." He went on to say that Russian President Vladimir Putin was not prepared for negotiations to end the war.

"That is why there must be unified pressure from all who value life – pressure on the aggressor. Russia must be held accountable for its actions," urged Zelenskyy.

However, Russia has dismissed responsibility for the explosion, suggesting that Ukrainian authorities made the allegation to obstruct peace negotiations following a conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Putin about a potential settlement to the conflict.

A spokesperson of the Kremlin, the official residence of the President of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Peskov has shared similar views. Peskov noted, "There is no talk about striking on nuclear infrastructure, nuclear energy facilities, any such claim isn't true, our military doesn't do that."

Peskov shifted the blame to the Ukrainian government, saying, "It's obvious that there are those who will continue to oppose any attempts to launch a negotiation process, and it's obvious that those people will do everything to try to derail this process."

Russia has repeatedly claimed that Ukraine attempts to target nuclear power plants with drones, an accusation Kyiv has firmly rejected. The IAEA has also consistently emphasized the risks of military activity near nuclear facilities since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Earlier in the war, Russian forces occupied the Chornobyl site before eventually withdrawing.

Trump recently stated that officials from Ukraine and Russia, along with U.S. representatives, would convene at a security conference in Munich. However, Russia is not officially participating in the event and has not addressed Trump’s remarks about potential discussions between the two nations.

A senior Ukrainian official, meanwhile, indicated that no such negotiations with Russian representatives were anticipated in Munich. However, Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Vance suggested that all options remain open in efforts to secure Ukraine’s long-term independence as Trump prepares for discussions with his Russian counterpart regarding a possible agreement.