On the night of June 7, an incident occurred near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant that has caused serious international concern. A Russian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) struck a nuclear infrastructure facility — the Centralized Storage Facility for Spent Nuclear Fuel (CSFSNF). The incident took place in the village of Buryakovka in the Kyiv region, approximately 15 kilometers from the plant itself.
Attack Details and Consequences
According to the State Nuclear Energy Generating Company 'Energoatom', the attack occurred around 02:10. The enemy UAV, later identified as a Shahed-type strike drone, hit the container reception building. As a result of the explosion, the building sustained partial damage: the facade, windows, and doors were damaged. The blast wave also affected adjacent structures.
Immediately after the impact, a fire broke out covering an area of about 40 square meters. Emergency response services promptly contained the fire and fully extinguished it. 'Energoatom' emphasized a key point: at the time of the strike, the attacked building did not store spent nuclear fuel.
Radiation Situation
Despite the proximity to facilities containing nuclear materials, the situation at the site remains under control. The radiation level in the CSFSNF zone is within normal limits. Specialists continue to monitor the situation and coordinate with state security services.
This incident recalls the large-scale forest fire in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone that occurred in May 2026. At that time, the fire engulfed significant areas of the reserve; however, specialized services reported that gamma radiation levels and radionuclide concentrations did not exceed permissible values.
Reaction of International Organizations
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed receiving information from Ukraine regarding the strike. The Agency's Director General, Rafael Grossi, expressed deep concern over the incident.
"Attacks on nuclear facilities are absolutely unacceptable and directly contradict the key principles of nuclear safety," Grossi stated. He emphasized that the attack occurred at a facility where a large amount of nuclear material is stored just a few meters from the damaged building. The IAEA team plans to personally inspect the facility in the near future to assess the consequences.
Kyiv's Position
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine noted that Russia continues to grossly violate norms of international law, creating unprecedented threats to nuclear safety in Europe. 'Energoatom', in turn, characterized the strike as a demonstration of the true face of the Kremlin regime, which consciously ignores the safety of millions of people and acts as a terrorist state.