KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – In a recent wave of violence across Ukraine, Russian-occupied areas, and Russia itself, at least 16 individuals lost their lives due to various strikes over the past day. The escalation of attacks coincides with the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, prompting new concerns regarding the dangers posed by ongoing military actions near the facility during the persistent conflict that has lasted over four years.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commemorated the anniversary by issuing a stark warning about the potential repetition of past disasters due to Russian aggression. He stated, “Russia is once again bringing the world to the brink of a man-made disaster. Russian-Iranian Shaheds regularly fly over the plant, and one of them struck the confinement last year.” He emphasized that such actions should be classified as nuclear terrorism, urging the global community to take action to halt Russia's reckless military operations.
In the city of Dnipro, Russian drone and missile strikes resulted in the deaths of at least nine people, as reported by regional head Oleksandr Hanzha. Additionally, a Ukrainian drone strike in the port city of Sevastopol, which is under Russian occupation, claimed the life of one man according to local authorities. Sevastopol has been a critical supply point for Russia since the annexation of Crimea in 2014, a move widely condemned as illegal.
In Luhansk, Leonid Pasechnik, the governor appointed by Russia, claimed that three individuals were killed overnight in a Ukrainian drone strike on a village. This was preceded by reports of two additional fatalities from another strike the prior day. The Ukrainian side has refrained from commenting on these incidents, with the accuracy of the claims remaining unverified by Associated Press sources.
Earlier in the day, a woman also lost her life due to a Ukrainian drone strike in Russia’s Belgorod border region. Furthermore, Ukrainian forces successfully targeted an oil refinery in Yaroslavl, located deep within Russian territory, igniting significant fires at a facility that processes 15 million tons of oil annually and supplies the Russian military with vital fuel products. As of now, there has been no official reaction from Moscow regarding the strikes.
Ukrainian military advancements have led to the development of their own long-range drones capable of reaching targets up to 1,500 kilometers (approximately 900 miles) within Russian territory. These capabilities have recently been employed against Russian oil infrastructure, which Kyiv officials argue will directly contribute to enhanced military funding for Russia as it seeks to bolster its defense capabilities and weaponry against Ukraine.
On the occasion of the Chernobyl disaster anniversary, Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), reiterated concerns expressed by President Zelenskyy. He emphasized the urgent need for repairs to the plant's damaged outer protective shell, stating, “IAEA assessments show the damage sustained after a strike last year has already compromised a key safety function of the structure.” He warned that failure to address these issues could increase the risks to the original sarcophagus protecting Reactor No. 4.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development estimated that the repairs required would cost at least 500 million euros (around $586 million). However, Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Smyhal announced that current commitments from partners for funding repairs have reached only 100 million euros ($108 million), alongside a previously agreed sum of 30 million euros ($32 million).
Additionally, Ukrainian officials claimed in February that a Russian drone had struck the outer shell of the New Safe Confinement structure at the plant, a containment facility completed in 2019 at a cost of $2.1 billion. However, Moscow has denied deliberately targeting Chernobyl, suggesting that the attack was staged by Ukraine.
Meanwhile, relations between Russia and its ally North Korea seem to be strengthening. Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov visited North Korea for talks with leader Kim Jong Un regarding future military cooperation. During this visit, Belousov announced a transition to a “sustainable, long-term basis” for military collaboration between the nations. Reports indicate that Kim has provided thousands of troops and large military shipments to support Russia in its ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
