Drone Strike Hits Radiation Shielding of the Chernobyl Reactor Site Causing Concern Over Radioactive Material Release

Friday morning in the US, February 14th, a drone carrying a large amount of highly explosive material struck the shielding of the Chernobyl dome enclosing the site of the meltdown in 1986. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says that the “radiation levels inside and outside remain normal and stable.”

After the meltdown incident at Chernobyl in 1986, a large shelter was erected to contain emitting radiation from the decaying fuel site where the meltdown occurred. The first shelter was not designed for long term containment of the reactor core but rather acted as an immediate solution at the time. This was covered over with a long-term shield – the largest constructed movable structure ever built on land. It was rolled over the existing containment in 2019 where it will be designed to last for 100 years before a new containment replaces it.

At the start of the war in Ukraine in February of 2022, Russian forces seized the nuclear plant for a short time before withdrawing on March 31, 2022. The plant returned to Ukrainian control and the IAEA has held experts at the site to ensure the safety and security of the site since then.

The massive structure was struck on the morning of February 14th by what Ukrainian officials are calling a Russian Drone Strike. Russian officials have denied these allegations stating that they do not intend to target Ukrainian infrastructure. No further indication on where the drone originated from.

Damage shown to the outer containment of the melted down Chernobyl Unit 4 reactor core (image by: CHNPP).

The drone strike did considerable damage to the first containment inside and the new, long-term outer containment. Fire erupted inside of the containment leading to some immediate concern. First responders and firefighters were able to arrive on scene in time to mitigate the spread of fires and they were able to sequester it promptly.

Damage shown from the interior of the containment. Fires were put out and damage was cleaned. Image posted by Volodymyr Zelenskyy on X.

Despite “significant” damage to the shelter, Zelensky said radiation levels have not increased. Ukraine’s State Emergency Service has also said radiation levels in the area remain within normal limits.

Ukraine’s Chernobyl Power Plant website displays up to date status on radiation levels on and around the site. For up-to-date tracking on this information, see here.