At the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian troops occupied the territory of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Ukrainian forces later regained control of it, and are currently strengthening defensive positions there. Der Spiegel reports, according to UNN.
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According to the publication, checkpoints have been set up every few kilometers in this area of the Kyiv region.
Equipment is also being used to dig trenches and pits in the sandy soil, while the earth is used to create embankments at road intersections. Defensive galleries are being built underneath them. Timber from local pine forests is used in their construction.
Particular attention is being paid to protection against drones. Metal poles are being installed along the roads, with plastic nets stretched between them. Such anti-drone nets are already known, particularly in Donbas, for being intended to obstruct the flight of UAVs and cause them to become entangled in the structures
Analysts drew attention to the Chornobyl zone’s geographical proximity to Belarus. The distance to Russia’s ally is approximately 15 kilometers. Therefore, in the event of changes, the area could find itself within the range of FPV drones.
The protective structure over the destroyed fourth reactor of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant remains a separate issue. It was attacked by a Russian drone, but Ukrainian specialists patched the damaged metal shell.
The publication also recalled that the protective structure was installed in 2016 to prevent the leakage of radioactive particles. It was designed for approximately 100 years of operation. However, as a result of the Russian attack in February 2025, a smoldering fire broke out inside the shell, destroying its inner membrane. Therefore, the structure no longer functions as planned.
Chornobyl NPP decommissioning program is proposed to be extended until 203609.07.26, 13:09