A Russian drone has struck the protective shield of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, near Ukraine’s border with Belarus, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced.
Radiation Levels Under Control
Ukraine’s Emergency Service reported that radiation levels remain within normal limits and are being closely monitored.
According to CNN, the drone hit the shield designed to prevent radiation leaks from one of the plant’s damaged units.
“The damage to the shield is significant, according to initial assessments,” Zelensky stated.
IAEA Confirms Explosion
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that an explosion was detected in the Chernobyl exclusion zone, specifically at the protective structure isolating the remains of Reactor 4.
Reactor 4 exploded in 1986, releasing a massive radioactive cloud across parts of the former Soviet Union and Europe. It was later sealed with a concrete and steel sarcophagus to contain the radiation.