Ukraine has accused Russia of flying a drone armed with a high explosive warhead into the destroyed fourth reactor of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
The blitzed reactor is covered to prevent radiation after the 1986 disaster which sent pollution spewing across Europe. The accusation of a Russian drone came today from Volodymyr Zelensky, amid Donald Trump‘s attempts to broker a peace agreement in the three year war.
The drone caused a thunderous explosion on the roof, causing a fire, as seen in pictures. Zelensky said the blaze had been extinguished and radiation is so far normal, but monitoring is continuing. This was confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA].
“A Russian strike drone with a high-explosive warhead hit the shelter that protects the world from the radiation of the destroyed 4th power unit of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant this night,” said the Ukrainian president. “Ukraine built this shelter together with other countries in Europe and the world, together with America – with everyone who wants real security for people.
“The only state in the world that can attack such facilities, occupy the territory of nuclear power plants and conduct hostilities, completely disregarding the consequences, is today’s Russia. And this is a terrorist threat to the entire world. The shelter at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant was damaged by this drone. The fire was extinguished.
“At present, the radiation background has not increased, and this is constantly monitored. According to initial estimates, the damage to the shelter is significant.” Zelensky raged: “Russia carries out such attacks against Ukrainian infrastructure and our cities every night. Russia continues to increase its army.
“Russia does not change its crazy anti-human state rhetoric. And this means that Putin is definitely not preparing for negotiations. He is preparing to continue deceiving the world. That is why united pressure from all who value life is needed – pressure on the aggressor. Russia must be responsible for what it is doing.”
Russia occupied the site of Chernobyl earlier in the war, but then retreated. Moscow has frequently accused Ukraine of seeking to attack nuclear power plants with drones, which Kyiv has resolutely denied. There was no immediate proof today of the type of drone which allegedly hit the covering to the exploded reactor, of which is officially called the New Safe Confinement.
Reports say an IAEA team at the Chornobyl site heard an explosion coming from the New Safe Confinement at around 1:50am. A statement from the IAEA confirmed a strike on Chernobyl NPP sarcophagus, without saying who caused it. “On the night of February 13-14, IAEA experts at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant heard an explosion that thundered in the new structure that protects the damaged 4th reactor of the nuclear power plant, which led to a fire,” said the statement
“There are no signs of damage to the reactor shell. The radiation level inside and outside remains normal,” the department added. It was reported that “fire safety personnel and vehicles responded within minutes”.
“At this moment, there is no indication of a breach in the NSC’s inner containment. Radiation levels inside and outside remain normal and stable. No casualties reported. IAEA continues monitoring the situation.”
The head of Zelensky’s office, Andriy Yermak, said: “This is further proof that Russia is a threat to the entire world. Putin’s military deliberately attacked the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant at night.”
There was no immediate response from the Russian side. Wreckage of the military drone that hit the wrecked Chernobyl reactor cover was shown but the type was not immediately clear.
Ukrainian war reporter Denis Kazansky commented: “Russian war criminals hit the sarcophagus of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant with a drone. This can no longer be explained by any logic. They are simply incredible degenerates.”
Russian Telegram channels claimed the strike was likely a Ukrainian stunt to derail peace talks which gave the advantage of Vladimir Putin. Bloknot reported it was “looking like a Ukrainian attempt to pull apart peace deal negotiations”.
Yermak, speaking from the Munich Security Conference, added: “Today we will give a lot of information to our American partners about the Russian attack on the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, about how they are constantly flying drones over the Chernobyl zone, about the threats to the shelter and nuclear safety that they pose.
“Now the atmosphere is that everyone is very angry about this news here in Munich. Not ‘concerned’, as is often the case, but really angry. Because in the 80s, the whole world helped the Kremlin to eliminate this tragedy, when Moscow exposed unprotected people to radiation, Gorbachev received robots and equipment and scientists. Then the whole world invested in the shelter, and today these Russian idiots have launched a drone at it.”
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