'Second Chernobyl' fears as Russia launches huge strike – 'Metres from nuclear accident'

Russia has carried out a large-scale drone strike on a facility in the Chornobyl exclusion zone that contains significant quantities of nuclear material. Sparking fears of a new nuclear disaster, 40 years on from the Chernobyl disaster of 1986, the attack took place at around 2.10am local time and caused extensive damage to the facility’s fuel reception building.

The fire covered an area of 40 square metres, no injuries were reported. Describing the incident as “an extremely vile Russian strike,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of deliberately targeting the storage facility. He said a Shahed drone was used on “an ⁠extremely critical infrastructure ⁠facility”

“Russia deliberately struck this particular nuclear infrastructure facility,” he said in a post on X.

“As of now, there are no readings exceeding normal background radiation levels. But there is certainly an increase in Russia’s brazenness, which long ago went off the charts.

“Ukrainian first responders extinguished the fire at this facility after the strike.

“Real new steps by the world are needed so that the Russians feel that this terrorist war of theirs is a blow to Russia itself.”

Confirming the incident, the International Atomic Energy Agency reported that the blast wave damaged the building’s façade, windows, and doors, with nearby structures also affected.

Calling the incident “completely unacceptable”. The IAEA said their teams at the Chornobyl site will soon visit the facility to inspect the impact.

Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the IAEA, said: “The incident is deeply concerning as it occurred at a facility containing large amounts of nuclear material, held in storage just metres away from the attacked building.

“Attacks on nuclear sites are completely unacceptable and in direct contravention of key nuclear safety principles, notably the 7 Indispensable Pillars for nuclear safety and security during a military conflict.”

Responding to the blast State operator Energoatom said radiation levels at the facility remain within established limits.

The Ukrainian company said in a statement: “The fire, covering an area of 40 square meters, was quickly located and completely extinguished.

“There are no injuries among the personnel. The radiological situation at the central spent nuclear fuel storage facility remains within normal limits.”

The ongoing war has taken a heavy toll on the site, after the protective dome over the reactor that exploded in Ukraine’s Chornobyl in 1986 was reportedly damaged in an alleged Russian strike last February.

Although repair work worth €500 million had been underway to restore the New Safe Confinement (NSC), the facility has continued to suffer significant disruption due to the conflict.

“Missiles from the Russians still being fired across Chernobyl,” Shaun Burnie, a senior nuclear specialist for Greenpeace Ukraine, said.

“Here we are 40 years on and Russia is still conducting effectively a nuclear war against the people of Ukraine and Europe”, he added.

Russia has previously denied targeting Chernobyl. Russia’s army captured the plant on the first day of its 2022 full-scale invasion Ukraine, before withdrawing a few weeks later.