Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), during a visit to Ukraine, condemned drone attacks targeting protective structures at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, calling them a risk to the safety of millions. He stressed that nuclear sites should never be targeted and insisted there can be no excuses or ambiguity about such attacks. An investigation is required to formally determine the origin of the drone strike. Military personnel have reported that Russian drones fly over the facility daily. The UNDP chief stated that preventing drones from flying over the site is essential to avoid incidents, whether deliberate or accidental.
During his visit to Chornobyl, the UNDP chief attended the opening of a new solar power plant supported by Lithuania and Japan, with help from Ukrainian authorities and UNDP technical expertise. The plant will supply electricity to the cooling systems of Reactor Four, which was destroyed in 1986 and recently damaged by the drone strike.
Energy resilience was a key topic during the visit. Over four years, UNDP has mobilized $1.3 billion to help restore Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, much of which has been damaged by Russian attacks, affecting about half of the system. Thanks to these efforts, 6.6 million people now have access to electricity. The ongoing strategy aims not only to rebuild infrastructure but to shift toward a sustainable, decentralized energy model that is less vulnerable to attack. Electricity remains vital for services like schools, hospitals, and water supplies, especially before winter.
The UNDP chief also noted ongoing security challenges in Kyiv, where air raid sirens frequently sound, highlighting the persistent conflict affecting Ukraine’s population.