A significant forest fire is raging through the Chernobyl exclusion zone, ignited by a drone crash near the decommissioned nuclear plant on Thursday, according to Ukrainian authorities. As of Friday morning, the blaze had expanded to approximately 1,100 hectares (11 square kilometres), the Chernobyl nature reserve reported.
Radiation levels at the site remain within "normal limits," the State Emergency Service of Ukraine stated, as firefighters work to contain the flames. An image released by the service shows a thick column of white smoke rising from the area, much of which remains closed to the public due to residual radioactivity from the 1986 disaster.
Firefighting Challenges Amid Dry Weather and Mine Danger
The fire is spreading rapidly due to strong gusts of wind, with the emergency service noting that "due to strong gusts of wind, the fire is rapidly spreading across the territory, covering new sections of the forest." The situation is further complicated by dry weather and the presence of unexploded ordnance in parts of the exclusion zone, which "significantly limits the possibility of extinguishing work," the service added.
This is not the first time the exclusion zone has faced such a threat. In 2020, wildfires burned for weeks, causing a spike in background radiation. The current fire comes just a month after Ukraine marked the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl catastrophe, which forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people and left the surrounding area largely deserted.
Kyiv has repeatedly accused Moscow of reckless attacks on its nuclear infrastructure. Last year, a Russian drone punctured one of the radiation shells covering the reactor unit that exploded in 1986. The origin of the drone that caused Thursday's fire has not been officially confirmed, but the Ukrainian government has pointed to a pattern of Russian aggression near nuclear sites. This incident follows a series of drone and missile strikes across Ukraine, including a recent barrage in Kharkiv and drones crashing in Latvia, one of which sparked an oil depot fire near Rezekne.
The firefighting effort is a multinational concern, as the exclusion zone lies near the border with Belarus, and any significant release of radioactive particles could affect air quality across the region. The European Union has previously supported Ukraine in managing the zone, including funding for the New Safe Confinement structure that covers the damaged reactor.
As of Friday afternoon, the State Emergency Service reported that rescuers were working to prevent further spread, but the combination of wind, dry conditions, and mine hazards makes the operation particularly perilous. The situation remains fluid, with authorities monitoring radiation levels closely.
