On the night of February 14, 2025, a Russian attack drone carrying an explosive warhead struck the protective shelter covering the destroyed 4th reactor of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant, which contains radiation within its limits. The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky shared the video of the attack.
Screenshots: DSNS of Ukraine
"The sarcophagus at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant was damaged by this drone. The fire was extinguished. At present, the radiation level has not increased and is being constantly monitored. According to initial estimates, the damage to the sarcophagus is significant," Zelensky stated.
The Chornobyl Sarcophagus, officially known as the Shelter Object, was built in 1986 to contain radiation from the destroyed 4th reactor of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant after the catastrophic explosion. Due to structural instability and radiation leaks, it was later enclosed by the New Safe Confinement (NSC), a massive steel arch completed in 2016 to prevent further contamination and allow for reactor decommissioning.
The NSC is designed to last 100 years, providing a safer environment for dismantling the original sarcophagus and managing radioactive materials. Despite these efforts, Chornobyl remains one of the most hazardous nuclear disaster sites in history — especially when taking into account such terrorist attacks by the russian government.
