At least 16 people have been killed in strikes across Ukraine, Russian-occupied territory, and Russia, authorities said, as Ukraine marked the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. The attacks came amid heightened tensions over the risks posed by military operations near the Chernobyl plant during Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Part 1: Immediate Action & Core Facts
- Russian drone and missile strikes on Dnipro killed nine people, according to regional head Oleksandr Hanzha.
- A Ukrainian drone strike in Sevastopol, Crimea, killed one man, Moscow-installed authorities reported. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, a move widely condemned as illegal.
Part 2: Deeper Dive & Context
Strikes in Russian-Occupied and Russian Territory
- Three people died in a Ukrainian drone strike on a village in Ukraine’s Luhansk region, according to Leonid Pasechnik, the Russia-installed governor. Ukraine has not commented on the attack, which could not be independently verified.
- A woman was killed in a Ukrainian drone attack on Russia’s Belgorod border region, local authorities said.
- Ukrainian forces struck an oil refinery in Yaroslavl, deep inside Russia, Ukraine’s General Staff reported. The refinery, which processes 15 million tons of oil annually, produces fuel for the Russian military. Fires erupted at the facility, but Russia did not immediately comment.
Chernobyl and Nuclear Risks
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of 'nuclear terrorism' in a social media post, warning that Russian drones regularly pass over Chernobyl and that one had struck the plant’s protective shell last year.
- Zelenskyy highlighted the risk of a man-made disaster, noting that Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure have targeted areas near nuclear reactors. In January, Chernobyl lost its external power supply after Russian strikes.
- A Russian drone attack in February 2023 damaged Chernobyl’s radiation shelter, raising fears of a radioactive leak. The shelter, built to contain radiation from the 1986 disaster, was repaired, but the incident underscored the risks of military operations near the site.
Ukraine’s Long-Range Drones
- Ukraine has developed drones capable of striking targets 1,500 kilometers (900 miles) inside Russia, according to Ukrainian officials. These drones have recently targeted Russian oil facilities, including the Yaroslavl refinery.
- The strikes come as Russia seeks to boost oil exports, following a temporary U.S. sanctions waiver to ease supply constraints. Ukrainian officials have criticized the waiver, arguing it undermines efforts to pressure Russia economically.
Russian Claims and Ukrainian Denials
- Russia claims full control of Ukraine’s Luhansk region, a claim denied by Ukraine. The status of the region remains contested, with ongoing fighting and conflicting reports.
- Ukraine has not commented on several of the reported strikes, including those in Luhansk and Belgorod, citing the need for independent verification.