WATCH | Russian drone strikes Chernobyl reactor shield, claims Zelensky; Kremlin denies

A Russian drone attack hit the protective shield over the already damaged reactor of the Chernobyl nuclear plant, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed. He said the overnight strike caused a fire in the plant but claimed that the radiation levels had not increased at the plant as of Friday morning (Feb 14).

However, Kremlin denied the claim saying, "There is no question of any strikes on such nuclear infrastructure sites. Any claims that this was the case do not correspond to reality. The Russian military does not do this."

Add WION as a Preferred Source

The Ukrainian president shared the visuals of the explosion on the social media platform X and wrote, "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 Chornobyl 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. 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 further added calling the incident a "terrorist threat" to the entire world.

Zelensky further alleged, "Every night, Russia carries out such attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure and cities. Russia continues to expand its army and shows no change in its deranged, anti-human state rhetoric. This means that Putin is definitely not preparing for negotiations — he is preparing to continue deceiving the world. That is why there must be unified pressure from all who value life – pressure on the aggressor. Russia must be held accountable for its actions."

IAEA on high alert

After the sudden explosion, fire safety personnel and vehicles responded within minutes, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said. It further said that no casualties have been reported so far.

IAEA, which monitors nuclear safety across the world, said that the radiation levels inside and outside Chernobyl remain normal and stable despite the explosion.

But the agency continued being on "high alert" after the incident. The director general Rafael Mariano Grossi said there is "no room for complacency".

Chernobyl nuclear disaster: The explosion of 1986

In 1986, Chernobyl became the site of the world's worst nuclear accident.

A catastrophic explosion occurred in the plant that sent a plume of radioactive material into the air. The incident caused a public emergency across the Europe.

(With inputs from agencies)