The outer shell that was struck is a protective cover built in 2016 over a heavy concrete containment structure. Soon after the 1986 disaster, the inner layer (in which there was no indication of a breach on Friday morning), was placed on the plant’s fourth reactor. The containment shells seek to prevent radiation leaks.

Russia promptly accused Ukraine of planning the Chernobyl attack as a “false flag” operation. A Russian drone is reported to have struck the Chernobyl nuclear power plant's concrete "sarcophagus" in the early hours of Friday in an overnight attack.