Strike on Chernobyl: High-altitude workers are extinguishing smoldering hotspots on the arch.

Strike on Chernobyl: climbers eliminate smoldering hotspots on the arch

On Sunday, February 23, efforts continue at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant to extinguish the smoldering hotspots that emerged after a Russian drone attack on February 14, as reported by the State Emergency Service.

“Rescue climbers from the SES are carrying out work to partially uncover the structure of the ‘Shelter’ object and eliminate the smoldering hotspots on the arch,” – the rescuers stated.

At the same time, the SES emphasized that the radiation levels at the Chernobyl site are currently within normal limits, posing no threat to the population.

A Russian strike drone with a high-explosive warhead hit the shelter of the destroyed 4th reactor of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant during the night of February 14, President Volodymyr Zelensky reported. According to him, the shelter at Chernobyl was damaged, but the fire has been extinguished.

Subsequently, Zelensky stated that the attack could have been deliberate. He mentioned that the drone was flying at an altitude of 85 meters, which is not detectable by radar.

The head of the State Agency of Ukraine for the Management of the Exclusion Zone (SAUM) Grigory Ishchenko stated that “catastrophic consequences” at the Chernobyl NPP have been avoided.

The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that an explosion occurred at the Chernobyl NPP during the night. They also noted that a drone struck the roof of the plant's sarcophagus, but did not specify whether it was a Russian drone.

Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov stated that he does not have precise information about the attack, but “there can be no question of strikes on any nuclear infrastructure facilities,” as quoted by Russian media.