Russian drone hits spent nuclear fuel storage near Chernobyl, no radiation leak detected

A Russian attack drone hit the Centralized Spent Fuel Storage Facility (CSSF) inside the Chernobyl exclusion zone at approximately 02:10 local time on Sunday, according to Ukrainian state nuclear operator Energoatom and the military's General Staff. The strike partially destroyed a container-receiving building and ignited a fire covering roughly 40 square metres, which emergency crews extinguished. No spent fuel was stored in the affected building at the time, and radiation levels remained within normal limits.

The strike and immediate response

The drone, identified by Ukrainian officials as a Shahed-type loitering munition, struck the reception building for containers at the CSSF, located about 15 kilometres from the Chernobyl plant itself. Energoatom reported that the fire was localised and fully extinguished, with no injuries among personnel. The company stated that radiological monitoring showed values within established norms and that critical facility structures were not significantly compromised.

The centre of the fire, covering an area of 40 square metres, was promptly located and completely extinguished. There are no injuries among personnel. The radiological situation at the central nuclear fuel storage facility remains within normal limits.

IAEA warns of grave risk

The International Atomic Energy Agency said it had been informed by Ukraine of significant damage to the building's facade, windows, and doors, with neighbouring structures also affected by the blast wave. An IAEA team is to visit the site shortly to inspect the impact. Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi called the incident extremely concerning, noting that large quantities of nuclear material are stored just metres from the building that was hit.

The incident is extremely concerning, as it occurred at a facility that contained large amounts of nuclear material, stored just a few metres from the attacked building.

Grossi added that attacks on nuclear facilities are completely unacceptable and directly contravene the fundamental principles of nuclear safety, particularly the seven indispensable pillars for nuclear safety during a military conflict.

Zelenskyy condemns deliberate strike

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attack as an extremely vile Russian strike, writing on X that a Shahed drone hit one of the buildings of the Centralized Spent Fuel Storage Facility. He said the foreign ministry, energy ministry, and all relevant services were working to ensure every partner knew what had happened. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X that Russia's nuclear blackmail and threats to nuclear safety are systemic, deliberate, and unacceptable.

An extremely vile Russian strike. At this moment, there are no readings exceeding normal background radiation levels. But there is certainly an increase in Russia's unscrupulousness, which has long exceeded any limits.

Pattern of nuclear brinkmanship

The incident follows a February 2025 strike in which a Russian Shahed drone damaged the protective containment arch over the destroyed Chernobyl reactor, an attack Moscow denied. Both sides have also repeatedly accused each other of attacking the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southeastern Ukraine, Europe's largest nuclear station. Russia has not publicly commented on the latest alleged strike.

Diplomatic backdrop

The attack came hours before British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was due to host Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at Downing Street on Sunday to discuss ongoing support for Ukraine. The meeting follows a week of intense hostilities and Vladimir Putin's rejection of Zelenskyy's proposal for face-to-face talks. The UK and France are leading a coalition of the willing initiative to provide security guarantees to Ukraine within a peace process framework.