Chernobyl Is Being Prepared for Another Russian Offensive — Der Spiegel
On August 10, Ukrainian military forces are preparing for the possible return of Russian troops to the Chernobyl zone, as happened at the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022.
At the start of the full-scale invasion, Russian troops occupied the territory of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Ukraine currently controls the plant, but throughout the entire zone, Ukrainian troops are preparing for possible surprises.
In particular, checkpoints have been set up every few kilometers. Construction equipment is also digging trenches and pits in the sandy soil. The excavated soil is being used to build earthen embankments at road intersections.
According to Der Spiegel, defensive tunnels are already being built beneath the sandy hills. Wood from the surrounding pine forests is being used for their walls and ceilings. In addition, construction workers are installing tall metal poles along the roads and stretching plastic nets between them. These are intended to hinder drone flights by causing them to become entangled in the nets. This tactic has already been used in the Donbas.
The article also highlights Belarus’s proximity to the Chernobyl exclusion zone. The two countries are separated by about 15 kilometers. Should the situation change, Chernobyl could fall within range of FPV drones.
Separately, *Der Spiegel* reports on the protective structure covering the destroyed fourth reactor unit at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. After a Russian drone struck it, Ukrainian workers repaired the damaged metal shell. The protective structure was installed in 2016 to prevent the leakage of radioactive particles. It was designed to last 100 years, but following the Russian drone strike in February 2025, it is no longer functioning as intended. At that time, a smoldering fire broke out inside the containment structure, destroying the membrane.
As a reminder, on Friday, August 7, a World Health Organization humanitarian warehouse in Dnipro was destroyed as a result of an attack. There were no people on the premises at the time of the strike, and no casualties were reported.
Over the past 24 hours, the occupiers lost 1,130 soldiers and more than 400 pieces of military equipment.
In the Kherson region, one person was killed and two were wounded as a result of Russian shelling.
