Massive fire in the Chernobyl area after the fall of a drone. The flames engulfed over 1,100 hectares.

A significant fire broke out in the Chernobyl area, affecting approximately 1,100 hectares of forest, according to the natural reserve administration. Firefighters are facing difficulties in containing the spread of the flames due to strong winds and mined terrain. The fire was caused, according to authorities, by the crash of a drone, without specifying its origin. Images from the radioactively contaminated area after the 1986 accident show columns of white smoke rising above the forests. Although the fire is spreading rapidly, Ukrainian authorities have assured that radiation levels remain within normal limits. The firefighters' intervention is complicated by dry weather conditions and the dangers posed by mines in the area. Chernobyl has also been affected by major fires in the past, including in 2020, when radiation levels temporarily increased.