At least 16 killed across Ukraine and Russia in exhange of strikes on Chernobyl anniversary
At least 16 killed across Ukraine and Russia in exchange of strikes on Chernobyl anniversary
Escalating clashes during nuclear disaster remembrance
Over the weekend, Russia and Ukraine engaged in a series of attacks that resulted in the deaths of at least 16 individuals, according to reports from both nations’ authorities. The conflict intensified as the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster approached, prompting renewed concerns about potential threats to the site from military operations near it.
Strikes in Dnipro and Crimea
Regional leader Oleksandr Hanzha confirmed at least nine casualties in a Russian drone and missile assault on Dnipro, a city in Ukraine. In Russia, officials stated a Ukrainian drone strike in the occupied Crimea region of Sevastopol had claimed one life. Earlier, a woman was reported killed in a Ukrainian drone attack on Russia’s Belgorod border area, per local authorities.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces targeted an oil refinery in Yaroslavl, deep within Russian territory. The strike ignited fires at the facility, which handles 15 million tons of oil annually and supplies fuel to the Russian military. Russia did not respond immediately to the incident.
Chernobyl as a focal point
As Ukraine commemorated the Chernobyl disaster, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a stark warning on social media. “Russia is once again bringing the world to the brink of a man-made disaster — Russian-Iranian Shaheds regularly fly over the plant, and one of them struck the confinement last year,” he wrote, highlighting the risk of repeating history.
“The world must not allow this nuclear terrorism to continue, and the best way is to force Russia to stop its reckless attacks,” Zelenskyy added.
Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, echoed these concerns during a visit to Kyiv. He emphasized the urgency of repairing the plant’s damaged outer protective shell, stating that IAEA assessments revealed the strike last year had already jeopardized a critical safety function.
Funding for Chernobyl restoration
Repairs at the Chernobyl site are estimated to cost a minimum of €500 million, according to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Ukraine’s Energy Minister, Denys Smyhal, reported that partner nations had pledged €100 million for the project, on top of a prior €30 million commitment.
Russian officials claimed that Kyiv carried out a drone strike on the New Safe Confinement structure in February 2025. The structure, a €1.79 billion arch-shaped containment built in 2019 over reactor No. 4, was targeted by a Russian drone, according to Ukrainian sources.
