Russia's Deliberate Endangerment of Ukrainian Nuclear Plants with Missiles and Drones

Hazardous Flights of Russian Missiles and Drones

According to Главком: Ukraine's Prosecutor General, Ruslan Kravchenko, has reported that Russian missiles and drones are conducting dangerous flights near nuclear power plants, creating severe risks to nuclear safety. He stated these actions cannot be justified by military necessity and instead indicate an intent to intimidate and terrorize. Kravchenko also highlighted drone strikes on the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the illegal use of land within the exclusion zone.

Russian forces have launched missiles and drones near the Chornobyl and Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plants. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, 35 Kinzhal missiles have been recorded flying within approximately 20 kilometers of these facilities. In one flight operation, 18 missiles passed near the nuclear stations, raising significant alarm. On three occasions, Kinzhal missiles fell within about 10 kilometers of the Khmelnytskyi plant, with no evidence they were intercepted.

Threats and Issues in the Chornobyl Zone

Furthermore, since July 2024, radar has detected at least 92 unmanned aerial vehicles operating within a five-kilometer radius of the Chornobyl plant's protective arch. In February 2025, a Russian kamikaze drone struck the Chornobyl plant, breaching the protective confinement structure. Investigation results suggest this strike was deliberate. Ruslan Kravchenko emphasized:

"The deliberate flights of drones with powerful warheads over a nuclear facility are, at the very least, extremely irresponsible and demonstrate a complete disregard... for the safety of civilians not only in Ukraine but throughout Europe."

Beyond military threats, over 190 hectares of land in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone have been illegally used for growing grain crops. Additionally, the legal status of three land plots within the exclusion and mandatory resettlement zones has been unlawfully changed. These facts underscore the severe challenges Ukraine faces during wartime, particularly concerning nuclear safety and environmental protection. The shadow of the 1986 disaster makes any threat to these facilities a profound concern for the entire continent.

The flights of Russian missiles and drones near nuclear sites are causing grave concern not only in Ukraine but internationally, as any accident could have catastrophic regional consequences. Given the historical context of the Chornobyl disaster, it is imperative for international organizations to monitor the situation and take steps to ensure nuclear safety in Ukraine.