Photo: Getty Images
Russian drone struck the grounds of Ukraine’s Institute for Nuclear Research in Kyiv on September 30, where the VVR-M research reactor is located, Ukraine’s State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate said. The strike occurred at 6:18 p.m. local time.
The attack caused a fire, which was quickly extinguished. No casualties were reported, and an assessment of the damage is underway.
The reactor itself and safety-critical systems were not damaged, according to the regulator. No change in background radiation was recorded, with readings remaining within the natural range of 0.16–0.20 microsieverts per hour.
The VVR-M reactor has been shut down since February 2022 as a precaution. Its reactor core has been fully unloaded, and only routine maintenance of safety-critical systems is currently being carried out.
The reactor is used as a neutron source for fundamental and applied research in nuclear physics. The State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate described the strike as an attack on a peaceful nuclear research facility and said it violated internationally recognized nuclear and radiation safety principles. That characterization reflects the Ukrainian regulator’s position.
The strike occurred amid a broader Russian aerial assault on Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine. The same wave of attacks damaged civilian infrastructure in the capital, including a school and other buildings.
