✓ verbatim from the press ◦ composed from multiple sources
Ukraine accused Russia on Sunday (7) of attacking a spent nuclear fuel storage facility near the Chernobyl plant, in what President Volodymyr Zelensky called an "extremely vile" attack on critical infrastructure. A Russian Shahed drone allegedly hit one of the buildings of the Centralized Spent Fuel Storage Facility, located about 15 km from the decommissioned plant. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"O presidente da Ucrânia, Volodymyr Zelensky, acusou a Rússia neste domingo (07) de atacar deliberadamente uma instalação de armazenamento de combustível nuclear usado próxima à usina de Chernobyl"
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported being informed about the incident and that the impact caused significant damage to the fuel reception building of the facility, with nearby buildings also affected by the shock wave. According to Ukrainian authorities, there was no increase in radiation levels or recorded injuries. The fire caused by the attack was quickly controlled. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"A Agência Internacional de Energia Atômica (AEIA) informou que foi comunicada sobre o ocorrido e que o impacto causou danos significativos ao prédio de recepção de combustível da instalação, e edifícios próximos também foram afetados pela onda de choque."
Russia has not publicly commented on the accusations made by the Ukrainian government. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi considered the incident "deeply concerning" as it occurred at a facility containing large quantities of nuclear material. An international team is expected to visit the site in the coming days to assess the damage. ◦
Press quotes (1)
"Russia has not publicly commented on the alleged strike on the facility, which is located around 15 km (9 miles) from the decommissioned Chornobyl plant"
This is not the first attack on Chernobyl-related structures during the conflict. In February 2025, a Shahed drone damaged the containment arch built over the reactor destroyed in the 1986 disaster, with Moscow denying responsibility at the time. The attacked facility is located near the site of the worst nuclear accident in history, which occurred in April 1986. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"Em fevereiro de 2025, um drone Shahed danificou o arco de contenção construído sobre o reator destruído no desastre de 1986. Na ocasião, Moscou negou responsabilidade pelo ataque."
No increase in radiation levels was detected after the attack
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
Covered by only some sources (1)
State company Energoatom confirmed there was no nuclear fuel inside the structure hit at the time of the attack
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What was exactly the extent of structural damage to the facility?
Why it's still unknown: The IAEA team has not yet visited the site to make a complete technical assessment
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Why has Russia not responded to the accusations so far?
Why it's still unknown: Moscow maintains silence about the alleged attack, without issuing an official statement