Topline
Ukrainian authorities said a Russian drone struck the radiation shield that covers the damaged Reactor Number 4 at the site of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, an incident which comes just hours before Vice President JD Vance is set to meet Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Munich as the Trump administration pushes for an end to the Russia-Ukraine war.
In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, a searchlight illuminates a hole in the … [+]
Key Facts
In a post on Telegram, Zelenskyy said an explosive warhead fired by a Russian drone struck the shelter “that protects the world from the radiation…of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.”
Zelenskyy said the attack showed Russia’s disregard for consequences and reiterated his stance that Russian President Vladimir Putin was “definitely not preparing for negotiation,” but rather “preparing to continue deceiving the world.”
A video of the alleged strike shared by the Ukrainian leader showed a large explosion over the “New Safe Confinement” shelter, which covers the melted-down Reactor 4 at Chernobyl, and later the footage showed a hole in the shelter’s roof.
Zelenskyy noted the radiation levels at the plant remain normal and authorities will continue to monitor them—before adding that the “damage to the shelter is significant.”
The International Atomic Energy Agency said at around 1:50 a.m. local time, its team at the Chernobyl site “heard an explosion coming from the New Safe Confinement…causing a fire,” adding they were informed this was a drone strike.
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Crucial Quote
“This shelter was built by Ukraine together with other countries of Europe and the world, together with America—all those committed to real security for humanity. The only country in the world that attacks such sites, occupies nuclear power plants, and wages war without any regard for the consequences is today’s Russia. This is a terrorist threat to the entire world,” Zelenskyy’s statement added.
Big Number
0.57 microsieverts per hour. That is the radiation level detected at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant site, according to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service, which also noted that this was well within permissible levels.
What To Watch For
Zelenskyy is set to meet Vance on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Friday. The meeting comes just two days after President Donald Trump said he had a “highly productive” with Putin where both of them discussed their intent to end the war in Ukraine. Trump hasn’t specified what kind of negotiated settlement he plans to broker between the two countries, but several NATO members have insisted that any discussions must involve Kyiv and other European allies.
Further Reading
Trump Says He Expects To Meet Putin In Saudi Arabia After ‘Highly Productive’ Call About War In Ukraine (Forbes)
Zelensky Warns Putin Is Not ‘Preparing For Peace’—Russia Strikes Kyiv After Trump Talks Progress On Ending Ukraine War (Forbes)
