Russia targets fourth power unit of Chernobyl NPP with a drone overnight, causing a fire and "significant damage" to its shelter. Video

On the night of February 14, Russian attack drone hit the shelter of the destroyed fourth power unit of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. A fire broke out at the facility, which protects the world from radiation, and there is significant damage.

This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who showed a video of the consequences of the actions of the terrorist state filmed by the military and border guards. The IAEA confirmed the attack.

The drone carried a high-explosive warhead

"This shelter was built by Ukraine together with other countries of Europe and the world, as well as with America, so basically everyone who wants real security for people. The only country in the world that can attack such facilities, occupy the territory of nuclear power plants and continue hostilities without regard to the consequences is today's Russia. And this is a real threat to the whole world, a terrorist act," the Head of State responded.

He emphasized that the shelter at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant was damaged by an attack drone with a high-explosive warhead.

The fire at the facility has been extinguished. Currently, the radiation level has not increased, and experts are constantly monitoring it. According to the first estimates, the damage to the shelter is significant.

"Russia carries out such attacks against Ukrainian infrastructure and our cities every night. It continues to increase its army. Russia does not change its crazy anti-human rhetoric. And this means that Putin is definitely not preparing for negotiations. He is preparing to continue deceiving the world. That's why everyone who values life needs to inflict even more pressure on the aggressor. Russia must be held accountable for what it is doing," Zelenskyy said.

Details

According to OBOZ.UA's sources, the enemy drone was flying at ultra-low altitudes. ChNPP employees received the information about the attack on the shelter (a protective structure over the fourth reactor of the Chornobyl NPP) at 01:50 on Friday, February 14, 2025.

"The target was not detected... it was moving at ultra-low altitudes. It is possible that Russia did not take the height of the structure into account or did so intentionally," the sources said.

Svitlana Vodolaha, a spokeswoman for the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, told OBOZ.UA that rescuers found several damage areas at the impact scene.

According to her, as of 10:30 a.m. on Friday, there is no open fire, but the smoldering of one of the places hit by the drone is still being eliminated. She also emphasized that radiation was within normal levels.

Reaction in Ukraine and the IAEA

The head of the President's Office, Andriy Yermak, posted clearer photos of the aftermath of the enemy strike on his Telegram channel.

"Regarding the drone hitting the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. This is another proof that Russia is a threat to the whole world. Putin's military deliberately attacked the Chernobyl nuclear power plant at night," he wrote.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed the attack, emphasizing that their team "heard an explosion at the site" of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant overnight.

"The drone crashed into the roof. There are no casualties," the organization said in an official statement without indicating that it was a Russian attack drone.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said that "this incident" and the recent increase in military activity around the Zaporizhzhia NPP "represent a recent increase in risk to nuclear safety".

"There is no room for complacency, and the IAEA remains on high alert," he said, not mentioning Russia once again.

Head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council, Defense Force officer Andriy Kovalenko emphasized that the Russians are launching drones over the Chornobyl NPP deliberately, constantly experimenting with the altitudes of the UAVs and trying to make them fly as low as possible.

"The Russians pose a nuclear threat to the world that has invested in safety at Chornobyl. Moscow is to blame for the Chornobyl disaster, and the same Moscow is now a threat to the Chornobyl NPP," he added.

Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets said that by hitting the sarcophagus at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which protects the world from radiation, Russia has once again demonstrated its true "readiness" for peace.

"Just yesterday the Russian leadership talked about its readiness for peace, but today it is endangering the whole world with a radiation accident once again. The terrorist country continues to deceive world leaders. Only by taking strong steps can the international community resist Russian terrorism. Such crimes will reach new territories if Russia is not brought to justice now," the Commissioner emphasized.

As reported, as a result of Russian attacks, one of the two power lines that supply power to the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was recently cut off. The Ministry of Energy of Ukraine stated that this put ZNPP on the verge of blackout again and that power supply could be restored only if the security situation on the territory improves.

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