Strikes Kill 16 as Chernobyl Anniversary Triggers New Nuclear Warnings
Zelensky warns Russian attacks risk repeating nuclear disaster history as drone strikes hit Dnipro and Sevastopol
Quick Look
- At least 16 killed in strikes across Ukraine, Russian-occupied Crimea and Russia over the past day, as the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster prompted new warnings about nuclear risks.
- President Zelensky warned that Russian drone attacks risk repeating history, noting Iran-designed Shahed drones regularly fly over the plant and one struck the confinement structure last year.
- Strikes in Dnipro killed nine people, while a Ukrainian drone strike on Sevastopol killed one.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Chernobyl nuclear disaster occurred on April 26, 1986, when Reactor No. 4 suffered a catastrophic explosion. Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and has been using Iranian-designed Shahed drones extensively in attacks. The nuclear plant has been occupied by Russian forces and has been struck by drones multiple times during the war.
Strikes across Ukraine, Russian-occupied territory and Russia over the past day killed at least 16 people, authorities said on Sunday as the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster prompted new warnings about risks posed by attacks near the plant during Russia's more than four-year invasion of its neighbour. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky marked the anniversary with a warning that Russian attacks risk repeating history. "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 on Facebook, referring to the Iran-designed drones that have wreaked havoc since Moscow launched its all-out war in February 2022. "The world must not allow this nuclear terrorism to continue, and the best way is to force Russia to stop its reckless attacks," Zelensky said. Russian drone and missile strikes on the city of Dnipro killed at least nine, regional head Oleksandr Hanzha said Sunday. One man was killed in a Ukrainian drone strike on the port city of Sevastopol, in Russian-occupied Crimea, Moscow-installed authorities said Sunday. Russia annexed the peninsula from Ukraine in 2014, a move that most of the world considered illegal, and has used it as a staging and supply point during the war.
Open Questions
- What specific defensive measures are being taken to protect Chernobyl?
- Will international pressure force Russia to stop attacks near nuclear facilities?
- What is the current condition of the containment structure after last year's strike?






