A Russian drone attacked the Institute of Nuclear Research in Kyiv
On the evening of September 30, a Russian drone struck the grounds of the Institute for Nuclear Research in Kyiv. A research nuclear reactor is located on the institute’s grounds.
Officials at the Institute for Nuclear Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine said the strike occurred on September 30 at 6:18 p.m. Kyiv time.
The drone struck the area where Kyiv’s VVR-M research reactor is located. The attack caused a fire, which was quickly extinguished.
The reactor itself and its safety systems were not damaged. The background radiation level remained unchanged.
Its readings remain within the natural background range—0.16–0.20 microsieverts per hour.
The reactor has been out of operation since February 2022. It was shut down to mitigate risks, and the core, where the nuclear fuel is housed, was completely unloaded. Currently, only routine maintenance is being performed on systems critical to safety.
“The VVR-M reactor is used as a neutron source for fundamental and applied research in the field of nuclear physics. Therefore, the UAV strike on the territory of the Institute for Nuclear Research is an attack on a peaceful nuclear facility that serves exclusively scientific and research purposes, and constitutes yet another cynical disregard by Russia for internationally recognized principles and standards of nuclear and radiation safety, as well as a war crime,” the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate emphasized.
Source: State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate.
Zelenskyy stated that Russia wants to cut Ukrainians off from the internet and communications.
In the Dnipro district of Kyiv, a residential area was destroyed as a result of a Russian attack on September 24. According to preliminary information, there were no fatalities among the residents.
Also, in Obolon, a UAV crashed onto the grounds of a garage cooperative.
Russia launched a missile attack on Kyiv on the night of September 24, leaving two people dead and eight injured.
