A Russian drone attack caused significant damage to the radiation containment shelter at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy reported on Friday. Despite the strike, Zelenskiy and the UN's energy watchdog confirmed that radiation levels remain normal. The incident coincided with the Munich Security Conference, where U.S., Ukrainian, and European officials discussed the ongoing war.
The drone hit the protective structure of the destroyed reactor, igniting a fire that was quickly extinguished. Zelenskiy stated on Telegram that initial assessments indicate significant damage to the shelter, known as the New Safe Confinement. Andriy Yermak, Zelenskiy's chief of staff, shared images showing a small fire near the top of the vast steel-and-concrete arch. Russia has not commented on the strike and denies targeting civilian facilities.
The New Safe Confinement, completed in 2019, replaced the deteriorating Soviet-built structure. Funded by 45 countries and institutions through the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the shelter cost 1.5 billion euros ($1.57 billion). Standing 108 meters high and 162 meters long, it was designed to last at least 100 years.
Zelenskiy, attending the Munich conference, met with U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance amid growing tensions, with new U.S. President Donald Trump pushing for peace negotiations. Yermak emphasized U.S. contributions to building the shelter and vowed to brief American partners on the ongoing threats from Russian drone strikes.
The attack has sparked international outrage, with Yermak stating that the mood in Munich was one of anger rather than mere concern. The assault highlights the ongoing risks to nuclear safety in the region, raising fears of potential environmental consequences from further attacks.