President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Vladimir Putin’s Russia of intentionally targeting a nuclear storage facility at Chernobyl. The Ukrainian leader denounced the incident as “extremely vile.” The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed the strike damaged a fuel-reception building near a significant amount of nuclear material storage. Despite the attack, no abnormal radiation levels were detected, and Ukraine’s state atomic agency clarified that no spent fuel was present in the building during the strike.
Zelensky expressed his outrage on social media, condemning the Russian strike as a blatant attack on critical infrastructure. The International Atomic Energy Agency expressed deep concern over the incident. In a separate event, a Russian drone strike in southeastern Ukraine resulted in the deaths of three individuals at a bus stop. Meanwhile, a retaliatory Ukrainian attack in Russia’s Kursk region caused casualties as well.
Against this backdrop, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hosted discussions with Zelensky, along with the leaders of France and Germany, to address ongoing support for Ukraine. The meeting followed a significant Ukrainian drone strike targeting St Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city. This attack highlighted Ukraine’s increasing capability to strike deep inside Russian territory.
In response to the escalating tensions, both sides have resorted to long-range strikes as the conflict remains deadlocked. The recent attack in St Petersburg, coming right after the city’s economic forum, dealt a blow to Putin’s attempt to downplay the conflict’s impact on Russian civilians. Despite Zelensky’s offer for a meeting, Putin rejected the proposal, prompting further verbal exchanges between the two leaders.
Zelensky’s public message to Putin criticized the Russian leader’s lengthy tenure and included jabs at his age. Ukrainian officials warned of intensified long-range attacks on various Russian locations, emphasizing that no area in Russia is immune to Ukrainian strikes. The situation continues to escalate as both sides engage in further military actions.