--- title: "Chernobyl at the Brink: How Ukraine is Preparing the Zone's Defense Against a Potential Russian Invasion and the Status of the 'New Safe Confinement'" description: "⚠️ Chernobyl back on the front line: Ukraine is building defensive lines and 'drone nets' in the Exclusion Zone. The German publication Der Spiegel reports preparations for a potential return of Russian troops. The Shelter Object over the 4th unit of the Chernobyl NPP was damaged after a drone strike in 2025, and in 2026 a fuel storage facility was attacked. The border with Belarus is 15 km away, creating additional risks. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡¦πŸ‡·πŸ‡Ίβ˜’οΈ #Chernobyl #War #ChNPP #Ukraine" date: 2026-08-10T03:38:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/chernobyl-at-the-brink-ukraine-defense-russia-2026 tags: [chernobyl, ukraine-war, nuclear-safety, defense, russia, belarus, der-spiegel] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Chernobyl at the Brink: How Ukraine is Preparing the Zone's Defense Against a Potential Russian Invasion and the Status of the 'New Safe Confinement' ![New Safe Confinement at Chernobyl NPP: people and bus near the entrance of the facility](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/10/chernobyl-defense-russia-2026/chernobyl-defense-russia-2026-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Ukraine is strengthening the defense of the Chernobyl Zone, preparing for a potential Russian invasion. - Underground galleries are being built and anti-drone nets are being installed in the Exclusion Zone. - The Shelter Object over the 4th unit of the Chernobyl NPP was damaged after a drone strike in February 2025. - In June 2026, a nuclear fuel storage facility near Chernobyl was attacked. - The proximity of the border with Belarus (15 km) increases the risks of attacks using FPV drones. ### A New Line of Defense: From Trenches to 'Drone Nets' In August 2026, the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone once again becomes a strategically vital sector of the front. Ukrainian military forces are actively fortifying positions, preparing for a potential return of Russian troops, who first occupied the nuclear power plant territory at the beginning of the full-scale invasion in 2022. Despite Ukraine currently maintaining control over the zone, tension in the region remains critical. According to the German publication Der Spiegel, new checkpoints are being established along the perimeter every few kilometers, while construction equipment is digging trenches in the sandy soil day and night. The unique nature of the terrain dictates its own rules of fortification. Excavated soil is used to create embankments at intersections, which serve as natural shelters. Underneath the sandy hills, sources report that underground defensive galleries are being established. Wood from the surrounding pine forests is used to reinforce the walls and ceilings of these structures, allowing for the rapid creation of protected communications without using heavy machinery that could attract the enemy's attention. ### Fighting Drones: Donbas Experience in the Exclusion Zone Particular attention is paid by the Ukrainian side to protection against aerial attacks, especially from FPV drones. Along the main roads, builders are erecting tall metal poles and stretching dense plastic nets between them. This tactic, previously successfully applied in the Donbas, is designed to physically impede drone flights, causing them to get tangled in the nets and fall. Given that the border with Belarus is only 15 kilometers from Chernobyl, the Exclusion Zone is within direct range of drones launched from the neighboring state's territory. ### Condition of the 'New Safe Confinement': From Fire to Threat The central element of the zone's infrastructure remains the Shelter Object (NSC), erected over the destroyed fourth unit of the Chernobyl NPP in 2016. The structure was designed for 100 years of service, but reality has made corrections. In February 2025, the object was struck by a Russian drone. As a result, a smoldering fire occurred inside the shell, destroying the protective membrane. Although Ukrainian specialists promptly patched the damaged metal shell, the functionality of the structure was compromised, and it no longer operates in normal mode. ### Contradictory Data There are discrepancies in the details of recent attacks on nuclear infrastructure. While Der Spiegel focuses on the fire in the NSC in February 2025, other sources point to an incident in June 2026, when a Russian drone damaged a nuclear infrastructure object located in the immediate vicinity of Chernobyl β€” a nuclear fuel storage facility. Versions of events may differ depending on whether it concerns a direct hit on the storage facility or damage to auxiliary systems, but the fact of the attack on fuel storage objects is confirmed. ### Strategic Threat: Proximity to Belarus and Risk of Escalation The geopolitical situation around Chernobyl is exacerbated by the proximity of the Belarusian border. Only 15 kilometers separate the Exclusion Zone from the territory of Belarus, making the region vulnerable to attacks using drones and artillery. In the event of a change in the enemy's tactics, Chernobyl could become not only a site of local fighting but also a zone of potential radiation catastrophe if fuel storage facilities or the damaged NSC are harmed. The preparation of defensive lines indicates that the Ukrainian command considers the scenario of a repeated invasion as the most likely. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Why is Ukraine fortifying the Chernobyl Zone in 2026? **A:** Ukraine is preparing defensive lines in the Chernobyl Zone due to the threat of a potential repeated invasion by Russian troops, who previously controlled the NPP territory in 2022. ### Q: What happened to the Shelter Object over the 4th unit of the Chernobyl NPP? **A:** In February 2025, the structure was struck by a Russian drone, resulting in a fire inside that destroyed the membrane. The shell was patched, but functionality was compromised. ### Q: What measures are being taken to protect against drones in Chernobyl? **A:** Metal poles with stretched plastic nets are being installed along roads, which cause drones to get tangled and fall. This tactic was previously used in the Donbas. ### Q: How close is the border with Belarus to Chernobyl? **A:** The border with Belarus is only 15 kilometers from the Chernobyl Zone, making the region vulnerable to attacks using FPV drones. ### Q: Were there attacks on the nuclear fuel storage facility in 2026? **A:** Yes, in June 2026 a Russian drone damaged a nuclear infrastructure object located near Chernobyl β€” a nuclear fuel storage facility.