Smoldering areas exist, but no fire: The Ministry of Internal Affairs denied the fake claim about a fire and potential radiation leak at the Chornobyl NPP

Fake news about an alleged radiation release at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant "that will happen soon" began to spread online. There was also unreliable information about three "fires" caused by a Russian drone strike on February 14.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs warned about the disinformation. On its Facebook page on Monday, February 17, the press service explained that these reports were untrue.

The operation to eliminate the consequences of the enemy's drone attack is indeed ongoing at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant.

As of Monday, SES experts recorded three centers of smoldering of roof insulation, not open burning.

"The Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center is constantly monitoring the radiation level, and it is currently within normal limits. There is no threat to the public.

We urge citizens not to disseminate unverified information and to trust only official sources of information!" the Interior Ministry said.

As a reminder, as of 10:00 a.m. on Monday, the State Agency of Ukraine on Exclusion Zone Management reported that radiation levels at the site had not changed.

Smoldering elimination activities were resumed due to the detection of three foci using a UAV with a thermal imager. Two groups of climbers and other specialists worked at the site.

As OBOZ.UA previously reported:

– A Russian "Shahed" hit the sarcophagus over the fourth unit of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant on the night of February 14.

– President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that the occupiers' kamikaze drone was flying at an altitude of 85 meters. Radars could not see it, and this indicates a targeted attack by Russia.

– The SSU confirmed that the "Shahed" that attacked the nuclear power plant was equipped with an explosive warhead.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!