Russia has been accused of 'nuclear blackmail' as an expert warns a drone attack at Chernobyl power station will lead to rising radiation levels

A Russian drone struck the containment shell protecting the radioactive reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, causing significant damage, Ukraine claimed Friday morning.

A Russian drone has hit the protective shelter over Chernobyl's damaged nuclear reactor, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said. The overnight strike at the site of the world's worst nuclear accident caused a fire that has since been extinguished, he added.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said its team monitoring the site heard an explosion coming from the confinement shelter covering Chernobyl’s reactor number 4.