Blistering fires are still raging inside the ‘sarcophagus’ of the exploded fourth nuclear reactor at Chernobyl power station.
The plant was hit on Friday by a drone carrying a high-explosive warhead, according to Ukraine, 38 years after the nuclear disaster at the site.
Radioactivity is now expected to increase within the 37-mile exclusion zone because of Russia’s ‘nuclear blackmail’, according to a Ukrainian nuclear expert.
Firefighters continue to battle the blaze round the clock in challenging weather conditions, admitted the International Atomic Energy Agency.
(Credits: Zelensky; e2w news)
The plant’s fourth reactor now has a 314 square foot gash after the drone strike.
Although no rise in radiation has been reported yet, an expert issued a frightening warning about how Russia’s attack will soon affect nearby radioactivity.
Dr Olga Kosharna, founder of the Anti-Crisis Expert Nuclear Centre of Ukraine, said: ‘The hermetic seal has been broken.
‘It is clear that the ventilation systems will [work] differently and the radiation level will increase.
‘But I think that it will not go beyond the industrial site and the exclusion zone.
Chernobyl’s reactors are covered by an outer dome to prevent radioactive leakage after the 1986 disaster – the world’s worst civilian nuclear accident – which sent pollution spewing across Europe.
Video footage shows how the explosion blew a hole in the dome at 1.50am on Friday, before a fire then broke out.
(Picture: Ukrainian Emergency Services; e2)
An open fire on the roof structure – officially called the New Safe Confinement (NSC) – was swiftly put out by first responders.
However smouldering fires remain inside the 20ft diameter hole.
The International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA] said: ‘The ongoing efforts to put out and prevent the spread of any remaining fires – apparently fuelled by inflammable material in the roof cladding – have delayed work to start repairing the damage.’
The organisation’s director Rafael Mariano Grossi added: ‘This was clearly a very serious incident, with a drone hitting and damaging a large protective structure at a major nuclear site.
‘As I have stated repeatedly during this devastating war, attacking a nuclear facility is an absolute no-go, it should never happen.’
Grossi also warned of an ‘increase in military activity in the area around the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
‘The IAEA remains committed to doing everything we can to help prevent a nuclear accident. Judging by recent events, nuclear safety remains very much under threat.’
Posting a video of the drone strike on X, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said: ‘Russia, in its current state, needs war to maintain its grip on power, and it proves its intent to keep fighting by bombarding Ukraine every single day.
‘This week alone, Russia has launched nearly 1,220 aerial bombs, over 850 attack drones, and more than 40 missiles of various types against our people. Ukraine is defending itself – we stand and fight thanks to the bravery of our warriors and the support of our partners.
‘But we need more air defense systems to protect Ukrainians’ lives.
‘Europe and the world must be better protected from such evil and prepared to confront it.
‘This requires a strong, united foreign policy and pressure on Putin, who started this war and is now expanding it globally.
‘Together with Europe, the U.S., and all our partners, we can end this war with a just and lasting peace.’
Zelensky spoke at the Munich Security Conference yesterday, accusing Russia of flaming the conflict with the alleged drone attack.
He said Russia ‘does not want peace’ following the strike before calling for the creation of a European ‘army’ to stop the continent from relying on US involvement.
Chernobyl’s Reactor Four exploded during a safety test on April 26, 1986, leaking radiation that spread through the atmosphere to several parts of the Soviet Union and western Europe.
In what became the worst nuclear disaster in history, it led to 56 deaths and put the lives of 4,000 people at risk due to the fallout, according to a IAEA report in 2005.
Of those deaths, 47 were emergency service workers, and nine were children who died of thyroid cancer.
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