A Wave of Strikes Marks Chernobyl's 40th Anniversary

At least 16 people were killed across Ukraine, Russian-occupied Crimea, and Russia on April 27, as drone and missile strikes coincided with the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

Casualties

Reports from regional authorities detail the following fatalities:

Dnipro, Ukraine: Russian drone and missile strikes killed nine people, according to regional head Oleksandr Hanzha.

Sevastopol, Russian-occupied Crimea: A Ukrainian drone strike killed one man, per Moscow-installed authorities.

Luhansk Region, Ukraine: A Ukrainian drone strike on a village killed three people, according to Russia-installed governor Leonid Pasechnik.

Belgorod Region, Russia: A woman was killed in a Ukrainian drone attack, per local Russian authorities.

Infrastructure Attack

Yaroslavl, Russia: Ukrainian forces struck an oil refinery, causing fires. Ukraine's General Staff stated the facility, which processes 15 million tons of oil annually, produces fuel for the Russian military. Russia did not comment on the strike.

Nuclear Safety Warnings

On the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, officials issued urgent statements regarding the plant's safety:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russian drone activity near the Chernobyl plant, including a strike on the confinement structure in February 2025, risks creating a man-made disaster.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stated that repairs to the plant's damaged outer protective shell must begin immediately. He warned that inaction could increase danger to the underlying sarcophagus. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development estimated the cost of repairs at a minimum of €500 million ($821 million). Ukraine reported partner commitments totaling €100 million ($108 million).

Other Developments

Russia-North Korea Military Cooperation

Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov visited North Korea and met with leader Kim Jong Un. The two sides agreed to transition military cooperation to a "sustainable, long-term basis." Belousov presented the Russian Order of Courage to North Korean soldiers who served in Russia's Kursk region. North Korea has previously sent troops and weapons to support Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022.