Russian forces intentionally targeted a storage facility for spent nuclear fuel near Ukraine’s Chornobyl power plant, as stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday, describing it as a heinous attack that did not result in a radiation surge. The strike caused significant damage to a fuel-reception building close to where a substantial amount of nuclear material is stored, as reported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) after being briefed by Ukraine.
Energoatom, Kyiv’s state atomic agency, confirmed that no spent fuel was present in the building during the attack, and a subsequent fire was swiftly extinguished with no reported injuries. The facility, situated approximately 15 kilometers from the Chornobyl plant, the site of the worst nuclear disaster in history, has not received any public comment from Russia regarding the alleged strike.
Zelenskyy condemned the attack as an assault on critical infrastructure, emphasizing the use of a Shahed attack drone by Russia. He affirmed that there were no radiation levels surpassing normal background levels at present, but criticized Russia for its increased audacity in recent actions.
The IAEA announced plans for a team to inspect the site and assess the impact soon. This incident follows a previous occurrence in February 2025 when a Russian Shahed drone damaged a containment arch over the Chornobyl reactor, which was originally obliterated during the catastrophic explosion and meltdown in April 1986. Despite consistent attacks on Ukrainian territories and infrastructure using drones and missiles, Russia has denied involvement.
Accusations have also been exchanged between Kyiv and Moscow regarding attacks on the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine, which is the largest in Europe.
