Ukraine Cautions That Russian Missiles Near Chornobyl Increase the Risk of a Nuclear Accident
Ukraine warns that the trajectories of Russian missiles and drones near Chornobyl heighten the risk of a nuclear incident as the anniversary of the 1986 disaster draws near.
Ukraine has issued a warning that ongoing Russian missile and drone operations near the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant are heightening the risk of a significant nuclear incident, as reported by the country’s chief prosecutor, according to Reuters.
Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko stated that Russian forces have often flown weapons near nuclear facilities, including the decommissioned Chornobyl site and the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant, since the onset of the full-scale invasion in 2022.
His comments arrive as Ukraine gets ready to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the 1986 Chornobyl disaster.
Kravchenko stated that both locations have been within the flight path of Russian hypersonic Kinzhal missile systems, with 35 identified within approximately 20 km of the facilities. Eighteen missiles traveled within that range of both plants during the same flight.
“These launches cannot be justified by any military rationale.” He stated, “It is clear that the flights over the nuclear facilities are conducted purely for the sake of intimidation and terror.”
The defense ministry of Russia did not provide a response to requests for comment.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has consistently reported military activity in proximity to nuclear sites and has issued warnings regarding the associated risks.
“The Director General of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, has consistently voiced significant concern regarding the risks and dangers posed by these military activities to nuclear safety and security,” it stated.
“The DG has consistently urged for utmost caution around nuclear facilities to prevent the risk of a nuclear accident.”
Kravchenko also revealed that in three instances, Kinzhal missiles landed approximately 10 km from the Khmelnytskyi plant. He stated that there were no indications they had been intercepted.
As of July 2024, Ukrainian radar systems have detected a minimum of 92 Russian drones operating within a five-kilometer radius of the radiation containment shield at the Chornobyl site, although the true figure could be greater.
“Deliberate flights of drones equipped with powerful warheads over a nuclear facility are not only extremely irresponsible but also demonstrate a total disregard for the safety of civilians, both in Ukraine and across Europe,” Kravchenko stated.
The Chornobyl plant, site of one of the most catastrophic nuclear disasters in 1986, remains extremely sensitive. The containment structure was designed to prevent radiation leaks from Reactor No. 4.
In February of the previous year, Ukraine reported that a Russian long-range drone hit the facility, causing damage to the protective shield. Moscow rejected any accountability, implying that Kyiv might have orchestrated the event.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has projected that repairs may amount to a minimum of €500 million and cautioned that, without intervention, “irreversible corrosion” could commence within four years.
Kravchenko stated that Ukrainian investigators suspect the strike was likely intentional, pointing to the steep angle of impact that aligns with the behavior of attack drones.
He mentioned that Russia might be utilizing the Chornobyl region as a flight corridor to bypass Ukrainian air defenses, which are focused around populated regions and critical infrastructure.
The Chornobyl exclusion zone is situated near the border with Belarus and approximately 100 km from Kyiv, rendering it a region of strategic sensitivity in the current conflict.
