New Delhi: As the Russia-Ukraine war refuses to die down, in the latest development, Ukraine has warned that repeated Russian missile and drone flights near the Chernobyl nuclear site could trigger a major accident.
Missiles, drones repeatedly pass near nuclear site
Ukraine has accused Russia of routing missiles and drones dangerously close to the defunct Chernobyl nuclear power plant during ongoing attacks. This has raised fears of a potential nuclear incident. According to Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, the flight paths have repeatedly passed near nuclear facilities. Calling this a pattern that cannot be justified by military necessity. The warning, reported by Reuters, comes as Ukraine prepares to mark the 40th anniversary of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.
Furthermore, officials say that since Russia’s invasion in 2022, at least 35 hypersonic Kinzhal missiles have flown within roughly 20 km of nuclear sites. In several cases, the same missiles passed near multiple facilities on a single route. In addition to the missile, Ukrainian authorities say more than 90 drones have also flown near Chernobyl since mid-2024.
Fears of damage, radiation risk grow
The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant was a nuclear energy station in northern Ukraine, which was then part of the Soviet Union. In April 1986, one of its reactors exploded during a safety test, causing the Chernobyl disaster, the worst nuclear accident in history, releasing massive radiation and forcing large-scale evacuations.
While Chornobyl is no longer an active reactor, officials warn that nearby strikes or debris could damage protective structures or monitoring systems. This could potentially lead to radiation leaks, while the extent of the leak may not be attributable momentarily, it could still be a cause of danger.
A drone strike in 2025 reportedly damaged part of the plant’s protective shield, with repairs estimated to cost hundreds of millions of euros, according to Reuters.
The International Atomic Energy Agency too has repeatedly cautioned against military activity near nuclear facilities. Meanwhile Russia has denied such accusations in the past, calling them provocations. Denials for the current claims by Ukraine though have not come out till now.
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