The Russian drone named “Geran-2”, a Shahed-type UAV, attacked the shelter over the fourth reactor of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP) on the night of 14 February 2025. This is confirmed by photographic and video evidence showing the engine and other parts of the drone found at the impact site, which are specific to a Russian UAV. Representatives of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) present at the site also confirmed the attack on the sarcophagus. In addition, independent open-source intelligence (OSINT) analysts confirmed that the drone entered Ukrainian airspace from the north or north-east, coming from Russian or Belarusian territory. Since the start of its full-scale war against Ukraine, Russia has consistently used attacks on Ukrainian nuclear energy facilities as a weapon and tool of blackmail to achieve its geopolitical objectives.
Social media and Russian websites are actively spreading claims that Ukraine allegedly attacked the Chernobyl NPP sarcophagus itself in order to blame Russia, “disrupt peaceful negotiations” and use this incident ahead of the Munich Security Conference. “Zelensky and his war-hungry cronies have gone all out: Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) attacked the Chernobyl sarcophagus with its own drone ‘on camera’ and blames Russia. For three years, Russia has done nothing against nuclear energy, and suddenly it decides to attack an inactive reactor?” social media users claimed. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also dismissed reports that a Russian drone had hit the shelter of Chernobyl’s destroyed fourth reactor, calling it “another fabrication”.
In reality, Russia hit the shelter over the fourth reactor of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant on the night of 14 February 2025. This is confirmed by photos and videos of the drone’s engine and other components found at the impact site, which belong specifically to a Russian UAV. IAEA representatives present at the plant also verified the attack on the sarcophagus that night. Russia regularly shells Ukrainian nuclear power plants and has fully occupied one of them – Zaporizhzhia NPP – since the early days of its illegal invasion of Ukraine. Independent OSINT analysts have confirmed that the drone entered Ukrainian airspace from the north or north-east, originating from Russia or Belarus. Since the beginning of its full-scale war against Ukraine, Russia has used attacks on Ukraine’s nuclear infrastructure as a weapon and a tool of geopolitical blackmail.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was the first to announce the attack on Chernobyl. He stressed that a Russian attack drone carrying a high-explosive warhead had hit the shelter of the destroyed 4th reactor. “At present, radiation levels have not increased and are being monitored continuously. Initial assessments indicate significant damage to the shelter,” Zelensky said. Ukraine’s emergencies ministry also released photos and videos of the drone’s engine and other parts, confirming its Russian origin. The moment the drone hit the sarcophagus protecting the fourth reactor was also captured by the plant’s surveillance cameras. Russia uses drones almost daily to attack Ukrainian infrastructure, civilian and military targets. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched 133 drones over Ukraine on the night of 14 February 2025 alone.
In addition, several independent OSINT analysts, including OSINTtechnical and OSINTdefender, have confirmed that the footage showing the drone hitting the protective structure around the reactor indicates that the UAV entered Ukrainian airspace from the north or north-east (from Russian or Belarusian territory).
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) also released photos of the wreckage of the drone that attacked the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, describing the attack as a war crime. “According to the investigation, the occupiers attacked the Chernobyl NPP with a Geran-2 kamikaze drone of the Shahed type. In order to maximise the destructive effect, this attack UAV was equipped with a high-explosive warhead,” the SBU reported. Experts believe that the Russian army deliberately targeted this particular facility.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also confirmed the attack on Chernobyl. “During the night of 13-14 Feb, at around 01:50, IAEA team at the Chornobyl site heard an explosion coming from the New Safe Confinement, which protects the remains of reactor 4 of the former Chornobyl NPP, causing a fire. They were informed that a UAV had struck the NSC roof.,” the organisation said on its official X account.
In addition, Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Ukrainian Centre for Combating Disinformation and an officer in the Defence Forces, noted that Russia is deliberately flying drones over the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and is constantly experimenting with Shahed flight altitudes, trying to fly as low as possible.
Furthermore, statements by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov that Russia is not attacking Ukraine’s nuclear facilities are false. There is ample documented evidence, including from the IAEA, that all three of Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants – South Ukraine, Khmelnytsky and Rivne – have been repeatedly attacked by Russia. Each time, however, Russian officials have denied targeting Ukrainian nuclear facilities. The Zaporizhzhia NPP, located near the city of Enerhodar, was illegally seized by Russian forces on 4 March 2022 and has since been used as a tool for nuclear blackmail and provocation. One of the leading open source intelligence (OSINT) analysts tracking Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Andrew Perpetua, also commented on the incident on his X page: “Two days ago the Russians were recorded setting up an ambush on IAEA inspectors who were trying to ensure the safety of the nuclear plant in Enerhodar. And Today they attacked the literal containment vessel for the Chernobyl Nuclear disaster. Neither are deemed newsworthy?”
So, as usual, Russia denies its involvement in yet another war crime on Ukrainian territory and instead blames its own victim for the attack. StopFake continues to expose such disinformation in reports such as Fake: Children’s Hospital Ohmatdyt Hit By Ukrainian Missile, Fake: Ukrainian Soldier Destroyed House Instead of Russian Missile and Fake: Ukraine «Admitted Odesa Residents Were Killed by Ukrainian Missile».
