A drone strike damaged the protective structure over Reactor Four at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, UNDP Administrator Alexander De Croo reported on 10 September 2026 after visiting the site. (Source: UN News report of De Croo’s visit.)
De Croo said the attack — whether deliberate or accidental — endangered millions and must stop. He was quoted as saying: "Anyone who’s attacking those protective structures ... is really gambling with the safety of millions of people." (Source: quote from De Croo.)
Military personnel guarding the site told De Croo that Russian drones fly over the facility daily. That is a claim reported by the UNDP chief; the origin of the strike has not been formally established. (Source: reported claim; Fact: origin unverified.)
De Croo inspected the interior of the protective shelter and viewed the damage firsthand. (Source: UN News account of the visit.)
He said the origin of the drone must be determined through a formal investigation. (Source: De Croo statement.)
During the same visit, UNDP and partners opened a solar power plant intended to supply electricity to cooling systems at Reactor Four. The project was implemented with support from Lithuania and Japan and technical expertise from UNDP. (Source: UN News.)
UNDP has mobilized $1.3 billion for Ukraine recovery work over the past four years and says 6.6 million people now have access to electricity thanks to that support. (Source: UNDP figures reported by UN News.)
De Croo said Ukraine is shifting toward a more sustainable, decentralized energy system to reduce vulnerability to single large strikes. (Source: De Croo statement; Analysis: decentralization aims to increase resilience.)
Sources & methodology
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