Zelenskyy said on the X social network that he considers the American promise to be an important sign of support and thanked him for it.
The United States will contribute $100 million (85.6 million euros) to repair the protective structure above the damaged reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday. In a post on Platform X, Zelenskyy called this promise from the US an important step of support and expressed gratitude for it.
More than 500 million euros ($583 million) will be needed to repair the protective structure of the reactor, the Ukrainian president added. Ukraine is working with its partners to secure the necessary funds, Zelenskyy said, adding that each contribution brings it closer to the goal.
History of the Chernobyl disaster
The explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine in 1986 was the worst civilian nuclear disaster in history. The accident and subsequent fire released into the environment over parts of the territory of the former Soviet Union. The leakage of radioactive substances most affected the adjacent regions of Ukraine and Belarus. Contaminated air currents also affected most of Europe, including Slovakia.
Russian offensive and new security threats
New threats to this location are currently represented by the Russian military offensive on Ukraine, which has been going on for more than four years, reminds DPA. On Sunday, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Zelensky accused Russia of committing “nuclear terrorism”. He pointed out that Russian drones regularly fly over the site of the former nuclear power plant, and one of them even crashed into the concrete sarcophagus that protects the remains of the fourth reactor unit in February last year. At the time, Moscow denied responsibility and accused Ukraine of probably carrying out the attack itself.
