Russian Shahed Drone Crash Ignites 1,100-Hectare Wildfire in Exclusion Zone

On May 7, 2026, two Russian Shahed kamikaze drones crashed in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, igniting a massive forest fire that rapidly spread across approximately 1,100 hectares (11 square kilometres) by the morning of May 8. Ukraine's State Emergency Service deployed 374 firefighting personnel and 84 units of equipment to battle the blaze. Ukrainian officials reported that radiation levels within the exclusion zone remained within normal limits — measuring 0.19 to 0.35 microsieverts per hour — and did not pose a public health threat to surrounding areas. Firefighting operations were significantly hampered by dry weather conditions, strong winds, and the presence of landmines throughout the exclusion zone left from previous military activities. The fire added to growing international concern about the safety of the Chernobyl site, which has faced repeated Russian drone and missile incidents since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.