Explosion at Chernobyl plant, Russia-Ukraine accuse each other of attacking nuclear facility

On February 14, Russia and Ukraine accused each other of attacking the Chernobyl nuclear facilities and the thermal power plant near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

A fire caused by a UAV attack on the Steel Shield at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine, February 13. (Source: IAEA)

Reuters reported that on February 14, in a social media announcement, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that an explosion occurred overnight at Ukraine's Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

The IAEA team in Chernobyl heard an explosion coming from the New Safe Confinement - which protects the remains of reactor number 4 at the old Chernobyl nuclear power plant - which was severely damaged in a fire in 1986. There were no casualties in the incident.

According to the IAEA, the delegation was informed that an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) had attacked the roof of the steel shield. Currently, the radiation levels inside and outside are normal and stable. The IAEA continues to monitor the situation.

Following the IAEA announcement, on February 14, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of carrying out the attack using UAVs, causing significant damage to the newly built protective structure. According to Mr. Zelensky, this attack caused a fire to break out but has now been extinguished.

Meanwhile, Russia also accused Ukraine of shelling a Russian-controlled thermal power plant in the city of Enerhodar, southern Ukraine, near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

A Russian-appointed local official said the attack left more than 50,000 people without electricity. Authorities were working to restore the power supply.

Russian news agencies quoted a nuclear power plant official as saying that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was not damaged in the attack and was operating normally.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/no-tai-nha-may-chernobyl-nga-ukraine-to-nhau-tan-cong-co-so-hat-nhan-304324.html