14 February 2025 , 10:41
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A Russian drone has hit the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine, raising concerns about a potential radiation leak.
The drone carrying a ‘high-explosive warhead’ hit a shelter covering Reactor Four – which exploded in the devastating 1986 Soviet Union disaster – according to Ukraine’ president Volodymyr Zelensky.
Video footage shows an explosion blow a hole in the dome, which was built to prevent radiation from the damaged reactor leaking into the air.
A fire then breaks out, which was later extinguished by Ukrainian firefighters.
Zelensky posted a video of the drone attack online and called Russia a ‘terrorist threat to the entire world’.
He wrote: ‘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.’
The International Atomic Energy Agency said the strike happened at 1.50am this morning, local time.
The explosion was caught on camera
The dome protecting reactor 4 before the strike
A map showing where the explosion happened (Picture: Metro.co.uk)
The president said radiation levels don’t appear to have risen since the blast, however authorities are continuing to monitor the situation.
Zelensky added the attack showed Russia is not sincere about peace negotiations.
He said: ‘Putin is preparing to continue deceiving the world.
‘That is why united pressure from all who value life is needed – pressure on the aggressor. Russia must be responsible for what it is doing.’
US President Donald Trump had said on Wednesday he had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the phone and negotiations had begun to bring the Ukraine-Russia war to an end.
Zelensky said he had also spoken with Trump and looked forward to creating a ‘lasting, reliable peace’.
Trump also told reporters at the White House that a return to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders was impossible, but that ‘some of that land will come back’.
A fire can be seen burning where the dome was struck (Picture: via Reuters)
The explosion (far left)
Firefighters put out flames from inside the dome (Picture: Reuters)
Chernobyl’s Reactor 4 exploded during a safety test. leaking radiation that permeated the atmosphere to several parts of the USSR and western Europe.
Known as the worst nuclear disaster in history, it lead to 56 deaths, according to a IAEA report in 2005.
Of those deaths, 47 were emergency service workers, and nine were children who died of thyroid cancer.
The report claimed that 4,000 more people could still die as a result of the fallout.