Ukraine war latest: Nuclear fears as Chernobyl hit by ‘high explosive warhead’

This morning, Ukrainian’s president Volodymyr Zelensky issued a statement on X on an explosion at Chernobyl, blaming it on a Russian drone attack.

Here’s what we know so far:

The explosion took place in the protective shell over reactor four at the nuclear power plant.

It resulted in a fire that was quickly extinguished.

The explosion too place at 1.50am local time.

Built in 2016, the protective shell is designed to limit the release of radioactivity left in the reactor to the atmosphere.

Mr Zelensky said the explosion was caused by a high-explosive warhead on a Russian drone.

Russian officials made no immediate comment, and it was not possible to independently confirm Ukraine’s claim of Russian responsibility.

Following news of the explosion at Chernobyl this morning, we’re now getting images from Ukraine’s State Emergency Service of the damage and apparent remains of a Russian drone.

Ukraine say the drone hit the protective confinement shell of a reactor. Radiation levels have not increased, Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky and the UN atomic agency said.

As we’ve been reporting, there was an explosion at the site of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant site last night.

It happened in the shelter that protects the remains of reactor 4 at the plant, which is in the process of being decommissioned.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) posted on X: “They [the IAEA team at the site] were informed that a UAV had struck the NSC roof.

“Fire safety personnel and vehicles responded within minutes. At this moment, there is no indication of a breach in the inner containment.

“Radiation levels inside and outside remain normal and stable. No casualties reported. IAEA continues monitoring the situation.”

Nato is testing its ability to rapidly deploy across eastern Europe — without direct US assistance — as Washington shifts its approach toward European defence and the war in Ukraine.

The six-week Steadfast Dart 2025 exercises across Bulgaria, Romania and Greece are taking place as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine approaches the three-year mark. They involve some 10,000 troops from nine nations and represent the largest Nato operation planned this year.

The US absence from the exercises comes as European nations scramble to build greater military self-sufficiency over their concerns about the Trump administration’s commitment to common defense and demands for increased European military spending.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced his intention to negotiate with Russia directly and US defence secretary Pete Hegseth argued that European nations should dramatically increase their defence spending and shoulder the “overwhelming share” of funding for Ukraine.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky this morning said a Russian drone attack significantly damaged the radiation shelter of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant overnight.

The Russian drone struck the shelter of the destroyed power unit at the plant, causing a fire that has since been extinguished, he said.

Radiation levels at the site had not increased as of this morning, he added.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, speaking during his meeting with US president Donald Trump yesterday, claimed that India did not have a “neutral” stance when it came to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“I have always been in close contact with Russia and Ukraine… Many people are in a misconception that India is neutral, but I want to reiterate that India is not neutral; we are on a side, and that is peace,” Mr Modi said at the White House.

The Indian prime minister added: “We want to end the war.”

The Ukrainian military this morning said that Russia launched 133 drones against the country overnight.

The air force said it shot down 73 drones and 58 others did not reach their targets, likely due to electronic countermeasures. It did not specify what happened to the remaining two drones.