Drone Hits Chernobyl Shield

A drone equipped with an explosive warhead has breached the radiation shield at the Chernobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine, igniting concerns about potential radioactive contamination. The strike created a hole in the protective barrier, momentarily compromising its designed function to contain radioactive substances.

Alexander Titarchuk, the plant's chief engineer, acknowledged the possibility of a radioactive leak but assured that the situation remains under control. Emergency crews swiftly responded, extinguishing a brief fire and initiating repairs to the damaged shield.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attributed the attack to Russia, characterizing it as a 'clear greeting' from Putin to the Munich Security Conference. However, Moscow vehemently denied these allegations. The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed an explosion but refrained from assigning blame.

Despite the alarming nature of the incident, both President Zelenskyy and the IAEA reported that radiation levels remained stable, with no damage to the plant's inner containment shell. This event has reignited debates about the vulnerability of nuclear facilities in conflict zones and the potential for such attacks to escalate international tensions.