Strike on spent nuclear fuel storage facility had no impact on radiation levels—IAEA
8 June 06:12
On Sunday, June 7, experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspected the aftermath of a drone attack on the Centralized Spent Fuel Storage Facility, located in the exclusion zone near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, reports "Komersant Ukrainian" citing the IAEA.
The attack, carried out that morning, caused significant damage to “the part of the building designated for receiving fuel, including the IAEA office located there,” according to a statement by the agency published on social media platform X. Experts documented damage to the building’s facade, walls, and stairwells.
Radiation levels are normal
At the same time, radiation levels at the facility near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant remain normal, the IAEA emphasized. Thus, the strike did not result in radioactive contamination.
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At the time of the attack, spent nuclear fuel was stored in containers several hundred meters away from the damaged building. The containers located closer to the attacked building were empty.
IAEA Director General: The incident is “playing with fire”
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi called the incident “extremely alarming.” An attack on a facility containing significant amounts of nuclear material is “playing with fire,” and such an incident must not be allowed to happen, Grossi added.
Zalensky made a statement
The Ukrainian state-owned company Energoatom reported the attack by a Russian drone on a spent nuclear fuel storage facility. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on the incident. According to him, the area around the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant was attacked by a “Shahed” UAV.
“Currently, there is no increase in background radiation, but there is definitely an increase in Russia’s long-standing, sky-high arrogance <...> The world needs to take real new steps so that the Russians feel that their terrorist war is a blow to Russia itself,” he emphasized.
Attacks on Ukraine’s nuclear facilities
This is not the first attack on Ukraine’s nuclear facilities. In February 2025, a Russian drone struck the protective shell of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, causing it to cease performing its protective functions. In May 2026, a massive forest fire broke out in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exclusion zone following an attack by Russian UAVs.
In addition, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which has been seized by Russia, is constantly suffering from hostilities. According to the IAEA, since the beginning of 2022, the ZNPP has been temporarily deprived of external power supply 17 times.
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