Explosion heard at Chernobyl nuclear plant site, radiation levels remain normal: IAEA

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Friday an explosion was heard at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (NPP) site overnight, but assured the radiation levels at the site remain normal.

The IAEA team at the Chernobyl site heard an explosion coming from the New Safe Confinement, which protects the remains of reactor 4 of the former Chernobyl NPP, causing a fire, the IAEA said on social media platform X.

The IAEA team was informed that an unmanned aerial vehicle had struck the confinement's roof, it said.

Director General of the IAEA Rafael Grossi said on Friday that the drone attack on the Chernobyl site was a very serious matter, but he could confirm that there was no nuclear leakage accident.

Grossi also said that the recent attack on the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the escalating military activities near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant highlight the persistent nuclear security risks, and the IAEA will maintain a high level of alertness.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media on Friday that the attack was carried out by the Russian side, using a drone with a high-explosive warhead that caused damage to the confinement's facility.

However, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that Moscow was not behind the attack, and dismissed Zelensky's remarks as a "provocative" accusation by Ukraine.

The Chernobyl plant, some 110 km north of the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, suffered one of the worst nuclear accidents in human history on April 26, 1986.

Explosion heard at Chernobyl nuclear plant site, radiation levels remain normal: IAEA

Explosion heard at Chernobyl nuclear plant site, radiation levels remain normal: IAEA

Explosion heard at Chernobyl nuclear plant site, radiation levels remain normal: IAEA

Explosion heard at Chernobyl nuclear plant site, radiation levels remain normal: IAEA

China's top diplomat Wang Yi on Tuesday emphasized the importance of upholding international rules, saying that the conflict between the United States and Iran, which has lasted for over a hundred days, has severely impacted the regional and international situation.

Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, made the remarks during the 16th Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisors and High Representatives on National Security held in New Delhi, India.

He said that the recent signing of the first phase of the U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding, along with the conflict, has made many things clear to us.

The first is the importance of upholding international rules, Wang said at Tuesday's conference.

"The settlement of any international and regional hotspot issues should be based on abiding by international rules. The law of the jungle may succeed for a while, but it is not sustainable," he said.

The second is the importance of respecting national sovereignty, Wang said, adding that territorial integrity shall not be violated and a country's internal affairs shall not be interfered with. This is the most basic bottom line of international justice, he noted.

The third point is the importance of establishing a new vision of security, Wang said.

"Countries are increasingly becoming a community with a shared future. The practice of seeking absolute security of oneself at the expense of others will only backfire," he said.

The Chinese top diplomat said that the fourth is to understand the significance of new forms of war. Unconventional warfare, such as information warfare and cyber warfare, has become more visible in recent conflicts. Facing interwoven traditional and non-traditional security threats, it is the right time for BRICS countries to enhance dialogue and cooperation on security affairs.

China's top diplomat stresses int'l rules at BRICS meeting