- By Talibuddin Khan
- Fri, 14 Feb 2025 03:30 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday said that a Russian drone with a high-explosive warhead had struck the protective shell of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor. This came after the Ukrainian military earlier in the day said that Russia launched 133 drones against the country in an overnight attack.
Terming the attack as a "terrorist threat to the world", Zelenskyy accused Russia of being the only country in the world that "can attack such facilities, occupy the territory of nuclear power plants and conduct hostilities". However, Zelenskyy further said that the fire, which broke out after the drone attack, has been extinguished and the radiation levels have not increased.
Last night, a Russian attack drone with a high-explosive warhead struck the shelter protecting the world from radiation at the destroyed 4th power unit of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 14, 2025
This shelter was built by Ukraine together with other countries of Europe and the world,… pic.twitter.com/mLTGeDYgPT
"According to initial estimates, the damage to the shelter is significant," Zelenskyy asserted, adding "Russia does not change its crazy anti-human state rhetoric. And this means that Putin is definitely not preparing for negotiations. He is preparing to continue deceiving the world."
Російський ударний дрон із фугасною бойовою частиною влучив цієї ночі в укриття, яке береже світ від радіації зруйнованого 4-го енергоблоку Чорнобильської атомної станції.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 14, 2025
Це укриття Україна будувала разом з іншими країнами Європи та світу, разом з Америкою – з усіма, хто хоче… pic.twitter.com/p7NCYt4l4V
The Ukrainian air force said it shot down 73 drones and 58 others did not reach their targets, likely due to electronic countermeasures. However, the Ukrainian army did not specify what happened to the remaining two drones. It is speculated that the Chernobyl nuclear reactor was struck by one of the two remaining drones.
The development holds significance as newly-elected US President Donald Trump has been pressing hard for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Trump will also meet Russian officials today in Munich, where, Trump said, Ukraine has also been invited. However, Kyiv has declined to hold talks with Russian officials.
"They're having a meeting in Munich tomorrow. Russia's going to be there with our people. Ukraine is also invited, by the way. Not sure exactly who's going to be there from any country, but high-level people from Russia, from Ukraine and the United States," Trump said as quoted by Reuters.
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Declining to hold any talks with Russian officials in Munich, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's communications adviser said that Kyiv believes the United States, Europe and Ukraine need a common position before talks with Moscow. "Talks with Russians in Munich are not expected," the Ukrainian communications adviser, Dmytro Lytvyn, said.