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Ukraine Says Missiles and Drones Skirt Nuclear Sites as Chernobyl Shield Faces €500 Million Repair

New allegations of overflights near reactors sharpen fears over nuclear safety during the war.

Overview

  • Ukraine’s prosecutor general says Russian drones and Kinzhal missiles keep passing near Chernobyl and the Khmelnytskyi plant.
  • He cites 35 Kinzhals within 20 km of reactors and at least 92 drones near the Chernobyl shelter since summer 2024.
  • Three Kinzhals fell within 10 km of Khmelnytskyi with no sign of interception, which suggests possible malfunctions near a reactor site.
  • The IAEA reports regular military activity around Ukrainian nuclear plants and urges steps that avoid any action that could spark an incident.
  • A drone strike on February 14, 2025 pierced Chernobyl’s steel arch with a roughly 15 m² breach, and the EBRD now pegs repairs at about €500 million with a four‑year corrosion risk if work lags.