Overview

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claims a Russian drone equipped with an explosive hit the protective structure over the damaged reactor at Chernobyl, causing a fire that was later extinguished.
• The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed its team on-site heard an explosion but stated that radiation levels have not increased.
• The Kremlin denied targeting nuclear infrastructure, with a spokesperson calling the accusations unsubstantiated and claiming Russian forces do not attack such facilities.
• The incident occurred during heightened diplomatic activity, as global leaders gather in Munich for a security conference where Zelensky plans to present evidence of the attack to U.S. and European officials.
• The damaged structure, known as the 'sarcophagus,' was built to contain radioactive material from the 1986 disaster and is critical for maintaining nuclear safety in the region.