Strikes in Ukraine and Russia kill at least 16 on Chernobyl nuclear disaster anniversary

Strikes across Ukraine, Russian-occupied areas, and Russia over the past 24 hours have left at least 16 people dead, officials said Sunday, as the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster reignited concerns about the dangers of military activity near the site amid Moscow’s ongoing war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky marked the anniversary with a stark warning, saying repeated Russian attacks risk triggering another man-made catastrophe. He noted that Iranian-designed Shahed drones have frequently flown over the plant, with one striking its protective structure last year. “The world must not allow this nuclear terrorism to continue,” he said, urging stronger action to halt Russia’s strikes.

In eastern Ukraine, Russian drone and missile attacks on Dnipro killed at least nine people, according to regional authorities. Meanwhile, in Sevastopol—a key port in Russian-occupied Crimea—a Ukrainian drone strike killed one person, officials installed by Moscow said. Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014, a move widely rejected internationally.

In the Luhansk region, three people were killed in an overnight Ukrainian drone strike on a village, according to Russian-backed authorities. Earlier, a woman died in a Ukrainian drone attack in Russia’s Belgorod region. Kyiv has not publicly commented on these incidents, which remain independently unverified.

Ukraine also reported striking an oil refinery in Yaroslavl, deep inside Russian territory. The facility, which processes millions of tons of oil annually and supplies fuel to the Russian military, caught fire following the attack. Russia has not issued an immediate response. Ukrainian forces have increasingly relied on long-range drones capable of hitting targets up to 1,500 kilometers inside Russia, including energy infrastructure.

Concerns over Chernobyl safety

Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, echoed Zelensky’s concerns during a visit to Kyiv, warning that urgent repairs are needed to the plant’s outer protective shell. Damage from a strike last year has already compromised a critical safety function, he said, raising risks to the original sarcophagus beneath if left unaddressed.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development estimates repairs will cost at least €500 million. Ukrainian officials say international partners have so far pledged around €100 million, in addition to earlier commitments.

Ukraine maintains that a Russian drone hit the New Safe Confinement structure—an arch built over Reactor No. 4—in early 2025, while Moscow denies responsibility and accuses Kyiv of staging the incident.

Russia deepens ties with North Korea

Separately, Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov visited North Korea for talks with leader Kim Jong Un on expanding military cooperation. Belousov said both sides agreed to place defense ties on a long-term footing.

During the visit, he awarded the Russian Order of Courage to North Korean troops who reportedly served in Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces launched a surprise incursion in August 2024. Pyongyang has supplied Russia with troops and weapons, further deepening its involvement in the conflict.