Efforts ongoing to extinguish smoldering spot at Chernobyl NPP

As reported by Ukrinform, the State Emergency Service (SES) posted this on Facebook.

"On February 22, the SES mountaineers are working on partially uncovering the shelter structures and extinguishing the smoldering spot on the northern side of the arch," the statement said.

A constant monitoring of the situation is being conducted using drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras and handheld thermal imagers.

According to the SES, the radiation levels at the Chernobyl NPP industrial site are within normal limits, and there is no threat to the population.

As reported by Ukrinform, overnight on February 14, a Russian strike drone with an explosive warhead hit the shelter over the destroyed 4th reactor of the Chernobyl NPP.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) found fragments of the enemy’s Shahed-type Geran-2 drone near and inside the protective structure. The SSU noted that, according to experts, the attack on the station was deliberate.

In the evening of February 14, a fire in the outer shell of the new safe confinement arch was localized at Chernobyl.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi called the Russian drone strike on the Chernobyl NPP confinement a very serious incident and stated that nuclear safety in Ukraine remains under great threat.

On February 17, firefighting efforts resumed at Chernobyl NPP due to the discovery of smoldering spots.