Nuclear plant hit by Russian drone, claims Ukraine

KABUL (Pajhwok): Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claims a Russian drone has struck the protective shelter over Chernobyl’s damaged nuclear reactor.

The BBC quoted the Ukrainian leader as saying the overnight strike at the site of the world’s worst nuclear accident caused a fire that had since been put out.

As Moscow denied involvement in the strike, the International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA) said radiation levels inside and outside the nuclear plant remained usual

While denying any attack on Chernobyl, Russia said its military did not hit Ukrainian nuclear infrastructure and “any claims that this was the case do not correspond to reality”.

Meanwhile, IEA said fire safety personnel and vehicles swiftly responded to the explosion. The agency reported no casualties.

In 1986, a blast at the nuclear site sent a plume of radioactive material into the air, sparking a public health emergency across Europe and ramping up cancer rates in the surrounding population.

Posted by Zelensky, footage on X apparently showed damage to the shield, made of concrete and steel, covering the remains of the reactor that lost its roof in the explosion.

PAN Monitor/mud