Kyiv: A Russian drone with a high-explosive warhead caused significant damage to the radiation shelter of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant overnight, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday.
Chernobyl was the site of the world’s worst civil nuclear catastrophe when one of its four reactors exploded in 1986. That reactor is now enveloped by a protective shelter, known as a sarcophagus, to contain the lingering radiation.
The Russian drone struck the shelter of the destroyed power unit at the plant, causing a fire that had since been extinguished, Zelensky said.
“As of now, radiation levels have not increased and are being constantly monitored,” he said, adding that an initial assessment had found significant damage.
Russian officials made no immediate comment and it was not possible to independently confirm Ukraine’s claim of Russian responsibility.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said the strike occurred at 1.50am local time (10.50am AEDT). It said there was “no indication of a breach in the … inner containment” shell.
The three-year Russia-Ukraine war has brought repeated warnings of dangers to Ukraine’s four nuclear plants, especially at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, which is Europe’s biggest and one of the 10 largest in the world.
Separately, Russia on Friday accused Ukraine of carrying out an artillery attack on a thermal power plant it controls in southern Ukraine, which is located near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station.
- For more: Elrisala website and for social networking, you can follow us on Facebook
- Source of information and images “brisbanetimes”“
