Chernobyl Is Being Prepared For Another Attack From Belarus

The German publication *Der Spiegel* has uncovered the details.

The Ukrainian military is preparing for the possible return of Russian troops to the Chernobyl zone, as was initially the case during full-scale invasion from Belarus in 2022.

This is reported by Der Spiegel.

At the start of the full-scale invasion, Russian troops occupied the territory of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Ukraine still controls the plant, but throughout the entire zone, Ukrainian military personnel are preparing for possible contingencies.

In particular, checkpoints have been set up every few kilometers.

Construction equipment is also digging trenches and pits in the sandy soil. The excavated soil is being used to build earthen embankments at road intersections.

According to *Der Spiegel*, defensive tunnels are already being built beneath the sandy hills. Wood from nearby pine forests is being used for their walls and ceilings.

In addition, builders are installing tall metal poles along the road and stretching plastic nets between them. These are intended to hinder drone flights by causing them to become entangled in the nets. This tactic has already been used in the Donbas.

The article also draws attention to Belarus’s proximity to the Chernobyl exclusion zone. The two countries are separated by about 15 km. If the situation changes, Chernobyl could fall within the range of FPV drones.

Separately, Der Spiegel reports on the protective structure covering the destroyed fourth reactor unit at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. After a Russian drone struck it, the Ukrainians patched up the damaged metal shell.

The protective structure was installed in 2016 to prevent the leakage of radioactive particles. It was designed to last 100 years, but after the Russian drone strike in February 2025, it is no longer functioning as intended. At that time, a smoldering fire broke out inside the shell, destroying the membrane.

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