Recent military actions by Russia have led to heightened fears regarding the safety of nuclear facilities in Ukraine, particularly the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Reports indicate that Russian missiles and drones have repeatedly flown near the site, posing significant risks of a potential disaster.
According to Ukraine’s Attorney General, both the Chernobyl and Khmelnytsky Nuclear Power Plants have been on the flight path of Russian Kinzhal hypersonic missiles since the onset of the full-scale invasion. A total of 35 Kinzhal missiles were detected within a 20-kilometer radius of these facilities, with 18 of them flying dangerously close during a single flight.
Attorney General Andriy Kovalchuk emphasized that such launches cannot be justified by any military rationale, asserting that the flights over nuclear sites are intended solely for intimidation and terror.
In three separate incidents, Kinzhal missiles reportedly fell within 10 kilometers of the Khmelnytsky Nuclear Power Plant, showing no signs of interception. This raises serious questions about the safety protocols in place for these critical infrastructures.
Further compounding these concerns, radar systems have detected at least 92 Russian drones flying within five kilometers of the Chernobyl site since July 2024. Kovalchuk described these deliberate drone flights, equipped with powerful warheads, as extremely irresponsible, highlighting a blatant disregard for the safety of civilians not only in Ukraine but across Europe.
In February 2025, a kamikaze drone struck the Chernobyl facility, breaching its confinement structure. Investigations revealed that this attack was intentional, underscoring the ongoing threat to nuclear safety.
Kovalchuk suggested that Russian forces may be using the Chernobyl exclusion zone as a flight route for drones, attempting to evade areas monitored by Ukrainian air defense systems. This tactic raises further alarms about the security of nuclear sites amid ongoing military operations.
Russian military operations near Ukraine's nuclear facilities have raised serious safety concerns. The Attorney General has reported multiple instances of missile and drone activity in close proximity to these critical sites, indicating a potential risk of disaster.