Ukraine's top prosecutor accused Russia of repeatedly sending missiles and drones on flight paths perilously close to the decommissioned Chornobyl nuclear plant, heightening the danger of a catastrophic accident.

Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko provided the details in written remarks to Reuters, noting that the revelations came just days before the 40th anniversary of the 1986 Chornobyl disaster on April 26. He stated that 35 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles passed within around 20 kilometers (12 miles) of either Chornobyl or the nearby Khmelnytskyi nuclear plant, with 18 flying within 20 kilometers of both sites on the same trajectories. "Such launches cannot be explained by any military considerations," Kravchenko said. "It is evident that the flights over the nuclear facilities are carried out solely for intimidation and terror."

The Kinzhal, an air-launched ballistic missile capable of speeds up to 6,500 kilometers per hour with a 500-kilogram warhead, has been a staple of Russia's arsenal in the war. In three instances, such missiles fell within 10 kilometers of Khmelnytskyi, with no signs of interception evident in the wreckage. Since July 2024, Ukrainian radars have detected at least 92 Russian drones flying within 5 kilometers of Chornobyl's protective radiation shield, though the true figure is likely higher due to detection limitations.

Kravchenko described the drone flights as "extremely irresponsible and indicative of a complete disregard for the safety of civilians not only in Ukraine, but throughout Europe." He suggested Russia may be routing attacks through the Chornobyl exclusion zone to evade Ukrainian air defenses concentrated around population centers.

Chornobyl, the site of the world's worst nuclear accident in 1986 that released massive radiation across Europe, has faced repeated threats since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Russian forces briefly occupied the area early in the war. In February 2025, a Russian drone struck the New Safe Confinement structure over Reactor No. 4, puncturing the outer shield and sparking a fire, though no radiation spike occurred. Russia denied responsibility for that incident. Repairs to the damaged shield are estimated to cost at least 500 million euros, with irreversible corrosion possible within four years without intervention.

More recently, in January 2026, Russian strikes on energy infrastructure cut off external power to Chornobyl, though backup systems prevented a crisis, and power was soon restored. Ukraine operates four active nuclear plants besides the decommissioned Chornobyl site, including the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia facility, Europe's largest.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly voiced concerns over military actions near nuclear sites. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has urged maximum restraint to avert accidents, and the agency monitors attacks on related infrastructure like electrical substations. Russia's Defense Ministry did not respond to requests for comment on the latest claims.

The exclusion zone around Chornobyl, less than 10 kilometers from Belarus and 100 kilometers north of Kyiv, remains heavily contaminated. Ukrainian authorities emphasized that any mishap could release radioactive particles across borders.