Zelenskyy Accuses Russia of Nuclear Terrorism on 40th Anniversary

On the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl explosion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly accused Russia of committing 'nuclear terrorism' through repeated drone attacks targeting the Chernobyl exclusion zone and other Ukrainian nuclear facilities. Zelenskyy called on the world to 'force Russia to stop its reckless attacks' near nuclear sites, warning that Russia is 'once again bringing the world to the brink of a man-made disaster.' The statement referred specifically to ongoing Russian drone and missile attacks that have repeatedly passed through the Chernobyl exclusion zone and, in February 2025, directly struck the New Safe Confinement arch — the massive structure built to contain the destroyed Reactor No. 4 — causing damage requiring urgent repairs estimated at up to €500 million.