Chernol nuclear power plant lost all power after Russian attack, says IAEA | World News

Chernol Nuclear Power Plant was the scene of the world’s worst nuclear disaster in April 1986. (Photo: Reuters)

Chernol Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine lost all off-site power following widespread military activity on Tuesday, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said. According to the nuclear watchdog, Several Ukrainian electrical substations vital for nuclear safety were affected widespread military activity on Tuesday.

“The IAEA is actively following developments in order to assess impact on nuclear safety,” IAEA Director Genera Rafael Mariano Grossi, said.

Several Ukrainian electrical substations vital for nuclear safety were affected widespread military activity this morning, Director General @rafaelmgrossi said. ChNPP lost all off-site power and power lines to other NPPs were also impacted. “The IAEA is actively following… pic.twitter.com/LR5eWmLODj— IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) January 20, 2026

According to Ukraine’s Energy Minry, overnight Russian strikes targeted energy infrastructure nodes supplying facilities in the Chernol exclusion zone.

The Minry also added that power to the Chernol Nuclear Power Plant has since been restored from Ukraine’s national grid. Officials said there is currently no direct threat to the population or the environment.

Located in northern Ukraine, in Kyiv Oblast, Chernol Nuclear Power Plant was the scene of the world’s worst nuclear disaster in April 1986 when one of the reactors malfunctioned, releasing huge amounts of radioactive material across Europe.

Chernol, which became a part of Ukraine following the collapse of the USSR, was briefly occupied the Russian Forces in 2022, in the initial days of the Special Military Operation.Story continues below this ad

This is not the first time during the ongoing war that Russia has targeted Chernol. In February 2025, Chernol NPP was hit an alleged Russian drone strike.

In December, the IAEA had said that Chernol’s New Safe Confinement was damaged the drone strike, causing fires and requiring emergency repairs.

According to the IAEA, NSC was severely damaged and lost its primary safety functions, including the confinement capability.

The NSC at Chernol was built in 2019 to replace the reactor destroyed in the plant’s 1986 meltdown, which resulted in the worst nuclear disaster the world has seen so far.