Drone Strike Damages Protective Structure at Chernobyl Nuclear Plant

The attack, which Ukraine blames on Russia, has not resulted in increased radiation levels but raises concerns about nuclear safety during the ongoing war.

A drone armed with a warhead struck the outer protective shell of the Chernobyl nuclear plant, causing a fire that was quickly extinguished without breaching the inner containment structure.
Radiation levels at the site remain normal, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which emphasized the ongoing risks to nuclear safety in the conflict.
Ukraine has attributed the attack to Russia, while the Kremlin denies involvement and accuses Ukraine of staging a false-flag operation to disrupt potential peace negotiations.
The incident coincides with the Munich Security Conference and recent discussions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin about potential peace talks, fueling tensions over the war's resolution.
The damaged structure, known as the New Safe Confinement, was designed to prevent radioactive release and protect the 1986 reactor sarcophagus, which remains intact despite the strike.