Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of recklessly endangering global safety after a wave of drone strikes caused a three-hour power outage at the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear facility, site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster in 1986.
Posting on Telegram, Zelensky said over 20 Russian-Iranian Shahed drones targeted the nearby city of Slavutych, cutting off electricity to the plant. “Moscow knew the risks but chose to act deliberately,” he wrote, calling the strike a “calculated provocation” against critical infrastructure.
Zelensky also slammed Russia for failing to restore the external power line to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, currently under Russian control, accusing Moscow of exploiting the “weak and indecisive” response of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and its chief, Rafael Grossi.
The Zaporizhzhia facility, Europe’s largest nuclear plant, relies heavily on external power to maintain reactor cooling systems. Any prolonged interruption could heighten the risk of a catastrophic incident, even though the reactors are offline.
IAEA officials have repeatedly urged “maximum restraint” from both sides, warning that continued military activity near nuclear sites poses “unacceptable risks” for Europe and beyond.
