A Russian drone struck the territory of the Institute for Nuclear Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in Kyiv on the evening of September 30, where the VVR-M research reactor is located. The attack caused a fire, which was promptly extinguished, and there were no casualties.
The information was reported by the State Scientific and Technical Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety.
According to the Institute for Nuclear Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the strike occurred on September 30 at 18:18 Kyiv time. An assessment of the damage and an investigation into the circumstances of the attack are currently underway.
The institution said that the VVR-M research reactor itself and the safety-critical systems were not damaged. No changes in radiation levels were detected after the attack.
Radiation background indicators remain within natural levels — 0.16–0.20 μSv/h.
Due to Russia’s full-scale invasion, the reactor has been in a shutdown state since February 2022, with the reactor core completely unloaded. Its operation is limited to scheduled maintenance of safety-critical systems.
The Institute noted that the VVR-M reactor is used as a neutron source for fundamental and applied research in nuclear physics. The facility is not used for military purposes.
The institute described the attack on the territory of the Institute for Nuclear Research as a strike against a peaceful nuclear facility and a violation of internationally recognized principles of nuclear and radiation safety.
