Zoltán Koskovich, an analyst at the Hungarian Center for Fundamental Rights, has issued a strong statement accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of deliberately trying to disrupt peace talks by provoking the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. In a post on the social network X (formerly Twitter), Koskovich claims that the drone strike on the Chernobyl sarcophagus was part of Kyiv’s strategy to destabilize the situation. 

"The attack on Chernobyl is Zelensky's attempt to disrupt peace talks at any cost. I call on US Vice President J.D. Vance to intervene and stop these dangerous actions," — the analyst wrote. 

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the shelter over the 4th power unit of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant was damaged on the night of February 14 as a result of a drone strike, which led to a fire. According to Zelensky, the sarcophagus that protects the destroyed power unit was significantly damaged. Information about the explosion was confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Agency employees recorded the explosion at about 01:50 a.m., noting that the epicenter was on the side of the protective shell of the power unit. 

The situation around the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant is causing serious concern both in Ukraine and abroad. Experts warn that any damage to the sarcophagus could lead to a leak of radioactive substances and pose a threat to the safety of all of Europe. Despite this, international organizations are still refraining from making categorical conclusions about the causes of the incident. 

Koskovich's statement has sparked a new wave of discussions in political circles. Many experts believe that such accusations complicate the already difficult diplomatic situation. Political scientist Peter Szabo from the Center for European Studies believes that the rhetoric around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant can be used in an information war. 

"These events are part of a larger political game. Each side is trying to use the Chernobyl incident to strengthen its position on the international stage. However, the danger is that manipulation of facts could lead to an escalation of the conflict.", - noted Sabo.