Russian forces struck a storage facility for spent nuclear fuel near Ukraine's Chernobyl power plant on June 7, 2026. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the attack 'extremely vile' and accused Russia of targeting critical infrastructure. International atomic energy monitors confirmed no spike in radiation levels following the strike.
Russian forces launched an attack on a spent nuclear fuel storage facility located near the Chernobyl power plant in Ukraine's exclusion zone. The strike, carried out by a Russian drone, was confirmed by Ukrainian officials. President Zelenskyy condemned the attack as a 'deliberate act of recklessness' and warned of systemic nuclear blackmail by Moscow.
International atomic energy monitors, including the International Atomic Energy Agency, confirmed that radiation levels remained normal after the strike. Ukrainian authorities stated that no significant increase in radiation was detected, though they expressed concern over the potential risks of such attacks on nuclear infrastructure.
Sources report differing details on the timing of the strike. The Russian-based outlet Rferl cited the strike as occurring on June 7, 2026, at 15:40:05 UTC, while the Times of India reported the event with a slightly earlier timestamp of June 7, 2026, at 10:26:33 UTC. Both sources agree on the location, the use of a drone, and the condemnation by Zelenskyy.
Sources
PublicRadio Free EuropeJun 7, 07:40 PM
Russian Strikes Hit Spent Nuclear Fuel Facility Near ChernobylRussian forces hit a storage facility for spent nuclear fuel near Ukraine's Chernobyl power plant, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said June 7. He called the strike an "extremely vile" attack as international atomic energy monitors announced it did not lead to a spike in radiation.
IndependentTimes of IndiaJun 7, 02:26 PM
Chernobyl fuel facility hit: Nuclear fears resurface, Kyiv says Russian attack ‘deliberate'A Russian drone struck a spent nuclear fuel storage facility in Ukraine's Chornobyl exclusion zone, officials reported. While authorities confirmed radiation levels remained normal, President Zelenskyy condemned the attack as a deliberate act of recklessness targeting critical infrastructure. This incident adds to a pattern of Russian actions endangering nuclear safety, with Kyiv accusing Moscow of systemic nuclear blackmail.