Russian missiles and drones have repeatedly flown along paths near Ukraine’s decommissioned Chornobyl nuclear plant, increasing the risk of a serious nuclear incident, Ukraine’s top state prosecutor told Reuters.
Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko said Russian forces have conducted multiple flights near nuclear facilities since the start of the war, including Chornobyl and the Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plant in western Ukraine.
Ukraine marks the 40th anniversary of the 1986 Chornobyl disaster this weekend, a catastrophe that released radiation across Europe and remains one of the world’s worst nuclear accidents.
Missiles near nuclear sites
According to Kravchenko, Russian hypersonic Kinzhal missiles have been detected on flight paths passing close to Ukraine’s nuclear infrastructure. He said 35 such missiles were tracked within roughly 20 km of Chornobyl or the Khmelnytskyi plant, with 18 passing near both sites on the same trajectory.
He added that in three cases, Kinzhal missiles fell to the ground within about 10 km of the Khmelnytskyi facility. The reason for the incidents remains unclear, and Ukrainian authorities said there was no evidence they were intercepted.
“These launches cannot be explained by any military considerations,” Kravchenko said, describing the flights as “intimidation and terror.”
Russia’s defense ministry did not respond to a request for comment.
Drone activity and safety concerns
Ukraine also reported increased drone activity near Chornobyl, with at least 92 Russian drones detected within a five-kilometer radius of the plant’s radiation containment shield since mid-2024.
Kravchenko said the actual number of fly-bys was likely higher due to radar limitations and tracking constraints.
He warned that deliberate flights carrying warheads over nuclear facilities show “complete disregard” for civilian safety not only in Ukraine but across Europe.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it has repeatedly expressed concern over military activity near nuclear sites and attacks on related infrastructure, urging maximum restraint to avoid the risk of a nuclear accident.
Chornobyl legacy and ongoing risks
The Chornobyl plant’s fourth reactor exploded in 1986, releasing widespread radiation and prompting a large-scale containment effort. The site’s last operational reactor was shut down in 2000.
A protective containment structure now covers the damaged reactor, designed to prevent further radiation leaks. Ukrainian authorities say it was previously damaged in a drone strike last year, which they believe was likely deliberate, though Russia denied involvement.
Repair costs for the structure have been estimated at no less than €500 million, with warnings that failure to repair it could lead to irreversible deterioration within years.
Strategic concerns
Kravchenko said Russian forces may be using routes near Chornobyl to avoid concentrated Ukrainian air defense systems, which are prioritized around populated areas and critical infrastructure.
He added that Ukraine’s limited air defense coverage, due to the country’s size and ongoing conflict, leaves certain regions more exposed to aerial threats.
The Chornobyl exclusion zone remains largely uninhabited and lies close to the Belarusian border, around 100 km from Kyiv.
