Russia Attacks with Shahed-Type Combat Drone with High Explosive Warhead That Punches Through Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Shelter

On the night of February 14, a Russian attack drone with a high-explosive warhead hit the shelter at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, causing a fire.
On Friday morning, Volodymyr Zelensky announced that a Russian drone with a high-explosive warhead had struck the shelter of Chernobyl’s fourth reactor.

“This shelter was built by Ukraine together with other countries of Europe and the world, together with America—by everyone who values real security for people. The only state in the world that can attack such facilities, occupy nuclear plant territories, and conduct military operations without considering the consequences is modern Russia. This is a terrorist threat to the entire world,” Zelensky wrote.

In his opinion, Russia’s actions indicate that Putin is definitely not preparing for negotiations:

“He is preparing to continue deceiving the world. This is why unified pressure from everyone who values life is essential—pressure on the aggressor. Russia must be held accountable for what it is doing.”

Head of the President’s Office Andriy Yermak published photos of the damaged Chernobyl shelter, emphasizing that the strike was not accidental. According to him, news about the Russian drone attack on the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant angered participants of the Munich Security Conference.

“Regarding the drone strike on Chernobyl NPP. This is further proof that Russia is a threat to the entire world. Putin’s forces deliberately attacked Chernobyl at night,” he wrote.

Russia struck Chernobyl’s fourth reactor

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that an explosion occurred at the Chernobyl NPP during the night. They noted that a drone hit the roof of the sarcophagus, but it was not specified whether it was a Russian drone.

According to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, the radiation level remains normal.
“After the Russian drone strike on the shelter of the fourth reactor of Chernobyl, radiation readings remain within the normal range. At the Chernobyl site, 0.57 µSv/h was recorded, which does not exceed permissible values. Monitoring continues. The situation is under control,” the report says.

According to the Air Force, the Russian army attacked Ukraine with 133 Shahed-type drones and decoys on the night of February 14. It confirmed that 73 UAVs were shot down in Kharkiv, Poltava, Sumy, Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Kirovohrad, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, and Odesa regions. Another 58 Russian decoy drones were lost.

The sarcophagus is not designed to protect against missile or drone strikes.

In case of damage to the sarcophagus, there is a risk of increased radiation levels, which could affect areas beyond Ukraine.

This was stated by Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine Roman Andarak on the “We—Ukraine” TV channel.

“The sarcophagus, the shelter object, is not designed to protect against missile or drone attacks. The sarcophagus is meant to prevent the spread of nuclear dust beneath it. Penetration and the creation of a shock wave inside will definitely lead to a significant increase in radiation levels within a specific area. The extent of this territory will depend on the strength of the explosion,” the official emphasized.

The Russian Foreign Ministry, through spokesperson Maria Zakharova, hastened to declare:

“Accusations against Russia regarding the Chernobyl strike are a provocation orchestrated by Kyiv ahead of the Munich Conference.”