Is there a radiation threat following the Russian drone attack on Chernobyl? Here’s what the rescue teams have to say.

On the night of February 14, the Russian Federation attacked the shelter of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant with a strike drone equipped with a high-explosive warhead. Monitoring of the radiation background is currently ongoing.

This was reported by RBC-Ukraine citing the press service of the State Emergency Service on Telegram.

According to rescuers, after the strike by the Russian drone on the shelter of the 4th power unit of the Chernobyl NPP, radiation levels remain within normal limits.

"At the industrial site of the Chernobyl NPP, a level of 0.57 µSv/h was recorded, which does not exceed permissible values," the rescuers stated.

Monitoring of the radiation background is still ongoing.

"The situation is under control. Please follow official announcements," the State Emergency Service reported.

Russian Drone Strike on Chernobyl NPP

On the morning of Friday, February 14, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that a Russian strike drone with a high-explosive warhead hit the shelter of the destroyed 4th power unit of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant that night.

"The shelter at Chernobyl NPP was damaged by this drone. The fire has been extinguished. Currently, the radiation background has not increased, and this is being monitored continuously. Initial assessments indicate that the damage to the shelter is significant," Zelensky wrote.

Subsequently, the Head of the President's Office, Andriy Yermak, shared the first photos of the aftermath of the drone strike on Chernobyl NPP.

It is worth reminding that at the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Russian forces captured the Chernobyl NPP, holding the station's personnel hostage.

By March 31, 2022, the Russians had vacated the territory of Chernobyl, stealing equipment and documents, as well as mining the area.