Ukraine's Prosecutor General revealed that Russia has sent drones and hypersonic missiles flying near the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear power plant multiple times during attacks on Ukraine, significantly increasing safety risks.
Ruslan Krawchenko, Ukraine's Prosecutor General, told Reuters that since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, 35 hypersonic Kinzhal missiles have been detected flying within a 20-kilometer radius of the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear power plant and the Khmelnytskyi nuclear plant in western Ukraine. Of these, 18 missiles flew approximately 20 kilometers from both plants along the same route.
Krawchenko stated that these missiles travel at speeds up to 6,500 kilometers per hour. Flying over nuclear facilities serves no military purpose other than "intimidation and spreading fear." He also noted a concerning incident where three Kinzhal missiles fell to the ground just 10 kilometers from the Khmelnytskyi plant without evidence of being intercepted, highlighting the risk of weapon malfunction causing strikes on strategic nuclear sites at any time.
In addition to missiles, since July 2024, Ukraine has detected at least 92 Russian attack drones flying within a 5-kilometer radius of the "reactor containment dome" at Chernobyl. This dome was constructed to prevent radioactive leaks following the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster, which spread radiation across Europe and prompted massive Soviet mobilization of personnel and equipment to manage the aftermath. The plant's last operational reactor was shut down in 2000.
The Kinzhal is an air-launched hypersonic missile capable of carrying a 500-kilogram warhead and is supported by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Traveling at 6,500 kilometers per hour, it can cover 5 kilometers in just a few seconds.
The Prosecutor General also disclosed a severe incident from February last year, stating that a Russian long-range attack drone struck and penetrated the radiation containment dome. Investigations concluded it was a deliberate attack, as the drone hit at a steep diagonal angle typical of targeted strikes. It is believed Russia used the Chernobyl area to bypass Ukraine's air defense systems.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) estimates that damage from such attacks could cost up to 500 million euros (about 18.8 billion baht) to repair. Without urgent action, structural decay could become irreversible within four years, potentially leading to a major radioactive leak.
Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), expressed grave concerns over military activities near nuclear power plants and called on all parties to exercise utmost restraint to prevent a nuclear accident that could affect the whole of Europe.
. Reuters