Zelenski: It’s a sign Putin is not preparing for negotiations.

A Russian drone struck a protective shelter at Ukraine’s Chernobyl defunct nuclear power plant overnight, Ukrainian officials and the United Nations’ nuclear agency confirmed on Friday, 14 February.

“Last night, a Russian attack drone with a high-explosive warhead struck the shelter protecting the world from radiation at the destroyed 4th power unit of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. 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,” Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski said on his social media accounts.

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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, he noted, adding “This is a terrorist threat to the entire world” and “Putin is definitely not preparing for negotiations — he is preparing to continue deceiving the world.”

The resulting fire was extinguished and that radiation levels remain unchanged.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed an explosion at the New Safe Confinement, a massive steel and concrete structure built to contain radiation from the plant’s 1986 disaster.

The agency reported that radiation levels inside and outside the facility remain stable.

The New Safe Confinement shelter at Chernobyl. Credit: Ukraine president office

The IAEA, which has had a team at Chernobyl since the early stages of Russia’s full-scale invasion, released images showing the drone on fire after it crashed into the shelter.

Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 133 drones overnight, with 73 attack drones intercepted in 11 regions. Ukrainian aviation, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare teams, and mobile fire groups helped repel the assault.

The 1986 Chernobyl disaster, caused by a reactor explosion during a failed safety test, spread radiation across Europe and forced tens of thousands to evacuate. Soviet authorities initially concealed the scale of the catastrophe before later downplaying its severity.

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To contain the radiation, an initial concrete and steel sarcophagus was built over the damaged reactor. In 2016, the $2 billion, 36,000-ton New Safe Confinement structure — funded by Western nations, Ukraine, and Russia — was placed over the original enclosure.

Russia has not commented on the Chernobyl shelter attack. Neither did the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, which is alleged to be preparing a round of negotiations with Moscow and Kyiv. 

Zelenski warned last year that Russia planned to strike three nuclear plants under Ukraine’s control.

A video of the attack has been circulated in the media.

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