Nuclear Blackmail of Europe: IAEA Confirms Russian Drone Strike on Shelter Over Chornobyl NPP
On the night of 14 February, a Russian attack drone with an explosive warhead hit a shelter over the 4th power unit of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, destroyed in 1986. This was announced by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
‘Ukraine was building this shelter together with other countries of 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 without any regard for the consequences is today's Russia. And this is a terrorist threat to the whole world,’ the President of Ukraine said.
In turn, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that a Russian drone had hit the Chornobyl NPP shelter, but stated that the Russian drone did not penetrate the protective shell of the shelter over the 4th power unit of the Chornobyl NPP.
‘On the night of 13-14 February, at around 01.50, members of the IAEA team at the Chornobyl NPP heard an explosion from the side of the shelter protecting the remains of reactor 4 of the former Chornobyl NPP. The explosion caused a fire. They were informed that a UAV had hit the roof of the shelter. Firefighters and vehicles responded within minutes. Currently, there are no signs of a breach in the shelter's inner containment. Radiation levels inside and outside remain normal and stable. No casualties have been reported. The IAEA continues to monitor the situation,’ the organisation said.
‘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's why we need united pressure from everyone who values life to put pressure on the aggressor. Russia must be held accountable for what it is doing,’ President Zelenskyy said.
According to the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine, a Russian UAV struck the New Safe Confinement of the Shelter over Chornobyl NPP Unit 4 at 01:54 a.m. on 14 February 2025.
The impact and fire damaged the integrity of the outer shell of the New Safe Confinement and equipment in the crane maintenance garage.
