Ukraine accuses Russia of striking Chernobyl reactor shield

A Russian drone attack has hit the radiation shelter protecting Chernobyl's damaged nuclear reactor, the BBC reported citing a statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The overnight strike at the nuclear plant, which is the site of the world's worst nuclear accident, caused a fire that has since been extinguished, Zelensky added.

As of Friday morning, radiation levels had not increased at the plant, Zelensky said.

The UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said fire safety personnel and vehicles responded within minutes of an overnight explosion. No casualties were reported, the agency added.

Moscow denied involvement in the drone strike. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the strike could have been a provocation or "frame up" by Kyiv.

RT quoted Peskov as saying that any claims that Russia is targeting nuclear facilities are false by default. He said he has no verified information about the situation, but assumed that most likely it was “the latest provocation, a frame up” orchestrated by Kiev. He added: “This is what they love doing.”