Photo: Andriy Yermak
The radiation situation is under control, although the shelter of Unit 4 was damaged
Rescuers continue to eliminate the consequences of a Russian attack drone hitting the sarcophagus at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine on Tuesday, 18 February.
As of 07:00, the radiation background remains within normal limits. Fluctuations in values do not exceed the usual values for control points.
What is known about the damage?
The drone caused damage in several sectors of the shelter:
The outer lining of the sarcophagus is damaged
The shelter has through damage on an area of up to 15 sq. m.
Deformed bolted joints and inner lining filler
Damaged connection points on the upper part of the maintenance garage
Rescuers continue to assess the risks and possible impact on the stability of the shelter structures.
How did the attack take place?
On the night of 14 February, a Russian drone with an explosive warhead hit the shelter of Unit 4 of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
The impact caused a fire, which was promptly extinguished.
Is there a threat of radiation contamination?
The radiation situation is currently under constant monitoring. Experts assure that there is no threat of radiation leakage, but the assessment of the long-term consequences of the attack is ongoing.
This is the first recorded attack on the Chernobyl nuclear power plant since early 2025, and it is a matter of deep concern to the international community due to the potential threat to nuclear safety.
