Russian Drone Strike Hits Chernobyl's Radiation Shield, Raising Alarm

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A Russian drone has struck the protective shelter covering Chernobyl's damaged nuclear reactor, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The overnight attack caused a fire at the site, which has since been extinguished. However, Oleksandr Titarchuk, the plant's chief engineer, indicated that the potential for radioactive leaks now exists, although the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported stable radiation levels at the site.

Russia has denied responsibility for the attack, branding Ukrainian claims as false. The IAEA confirmed that emergency services responded promptly to the explosion and reported no casualties. Rafael Grossi, the agency's director general, emphasized the need for vigilance following the incident.

Experts, including Professor Jim Smith from the UK's University of Portsmouth, acknowledged the attack as serious, yet reassured that the inner "sarcophagus" remains intact, containing radioactive particles from the 1986 disaster. Commentators, such as Simon Evans, former head of the Chernobyl Shelter Fund, condemned the strike as recklessly endangering nuclear safety.

Zelensky suggested that the attack signals a lack of commitment from Russian President Vladimir Putin towards peace negotiations amidst the ongoing conflict.

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