• A Russian drone attack targeted the radiation shelter at Chernobyl, but radiation levels remain stable, says Ukrainian President Zelensky.
• The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed the incident and its ongoing monitoring of the site.
• Zelensky condemned Russian aggression, stating that this indicates President Putin is not preparing for negotiations.

The Chernobyl nuclear power plant, site of the worst nuclear disaster in history, has witnessed a new escalation in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that a Russian drone struck the protective cover over the plant’s fourth reactor unit in the early hours of Friday, February 14. He emphasized that radiation levels have not increased as reported by the BBC and confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

According to Zelensky, who shared CCTV footage showing a blast at the Chernobyl structure at 2:02 AM local time, the incident occurred amidst a larger scale of Russian drone activity across Ukraine, with more than 133 drones launched overnight. The attack is seen as further evidence of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intentions to escalate the conflict instead of seeking peace—an assertion that Zelensky reiterated during his upcoming meeting with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance in Germany at the Munich Security Conference.

The IAEA acknowledged an explosion at the site and reiterated that both internal and external radiation levels remain stable. Their presence at Chernobyl since the start of the invasion underscores their commitment to monitoring the safety surrounding this sensitive nuclear site. Rafael Mariano Grossi, the director general of the IAEA, stated the importance of maintaining vigilance given the potential risks associated with military actions near nuclear facilities.

In response to the attack, Zelensky condemned Russia, stating, “The only country in the world that attacks such sites… is today’s Russia,” stressing the international urgency for accountability. As tensions rise, discussions on the potential for diplomatic engagements are anticipated, although Zelensky’s remarks suggest a deteriorating trust in Russian commitments to peace. The Kremlin, for its part, denied any deliberate strikes aimed at Ukrainian nuclear installations.

The historical context of the Chernobyl disaster, originating from a catastrophic explosion in 1986, looms large over the current situation, with heightened concerns over safety now exacerbated by military actions in the area. An international dome constructed in 2016 at a cost exceeding €2.1 billion illustrates the ongoing efforts to secure the site against radiation leaks, underscoring the grave implications of such attacks on global safety.

Further aspects of this incident are expected to be discussed in the forthcoming talks, as Ukrainian officials aim to bring the issue of the Chernobyl attack to the forefront of diplomatic negotiations with U.S. and allied leaders.

For more detailed information on this developing situation, please refer to these articles from the South China Morning Post and Le Monde.