Ukraine Accuses Russia Of Striking Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility Near Chernobyl

Last Updated:June 07, 2026, 15:56 IST

Ukraine says a Russian Shahed drone hit a spent nuclear fuel facility near Chernobyl, damaging a building but causing no radiation leak.

Ukraine Accuses Russia of Striking Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility Near Chernobyl

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has accused Russia of carrying out a drone strike on a spent nuclear fuel storage facility near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, describing the attack as an “extremely vile" act targeting critical infrastructure.

According to Ukrainian officials, the strike hit a fuel-reception building located near a storage site containing large quantities of spent nuclear material. While the attack caused significant damage to the facility, authorities said there was no increase in radiation levels and no injuries were reported.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that it had been informed about the incident and said the damaged structure was situated only a short distance from where spent nuclear fuel is stored. The UN nuclear watchdog added that an inspection team would visit the site to assess the impact of the strike.

Ukraine’s state nuclear operator Energoatom said no spent nuclear fuel was present inside the damaged building at the time of the attack. A fire that broke out following the strike was later extinguished.

Zelenskiy alleged that Russia used an Iranian-designed Shahed attack drone to target the facility, which lies around 15 kilometres from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster in 1986.

“An extremely critical infrastructure facility – and an extremely vile Russian strike," Zelenskiy wrote on social media, adding that radiation levels remained within normal limits despite the damage.

The incident comes more than a year after another alleged drone strike damaged the protective containment arch covering the destroyed Chernobyl reactor. Ukraine blamed Russia for that attack as well, while Moscow denied responsibility.

The Chernobyl exclusion zone has repeatedly found itself near the frontlines of the conflict since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. International agencies have frequently warned about the risks posed to nuclear facilities by military activity.

The latest allegations also come amid continuing tensions around the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest nuclear facility. Kyiv and Moscow have repeatedly accused each other of launching attacks in and around the site, raising concerns about nuclear safety during the ongoing war.

The IAEA said it would continue monitoring the situation and assessing any potential risks arising from the latest strike near Chernobyl.

-With inputs from agencies

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