In Chernobyl, a Russian drone attack early this morning hit near a spent nuclear fuel storage facility in the exclusion zone, Ukrainian officials said. No radioactive leaks have been detected so far, but the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said the incident was serious.
The attack happened at 2.10am and sparked a fire at the Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility (CSSF), in a container reception building. Ukraine’s state-owned nuclear energy company, Energoatom, said the building suffered severe material damage.
Energoatom said the fire, which covered an area of 40 square metres, was quickly located and fully extinguished. It added that there were no injuries among personnel and that the radiological situation at the site remains within normal limits.
Ukraine has informed the IAEA, and the agency said its team in Chernobyl will soon visit the facilities to inspect the impact. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said the incident was extremely concerning because it happened at a facility containing large quantities of nuclear material, stored just a few metres from the attacked building.
Grossi also said attacks against nuclear facilities are totally unacceptable and directly contradict the fundamental principles of nuclear safety, especially the seven indispensable pillars for nuclear safety during a military conflict. Read more on news and follow updates from the IAEA and Energoatom.