A Russian drone struck the containment shell protecting the radioactive reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, causing significant damage, Ukraine claimed Friday morning.

The protective covering that was placed around Reactor 4 in 2016 sustained a large hole from the unmanned aircraft.

“Last night, a Russian attack drone with a high-explosive warhead struck the shelter protecting the world from radiation at the destroyed 4th power unit of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant,” Ukraine President Volodomyr Zelensky said Friday.

“This is a terrorist attack for the entire world,” he added.

The Chernobyl plant is the site of the world’s first level 7 nuclear energy accidents, when Reactor 4 suffered a power surge resulting in steam explosions and a meltdown on April 26, 1986.

Security camera footage shared by Zelensky captured the moment a bright flash lit up the dark sky at the defunct power plant before a large fireball rose from the domed roof of the confinement structure.

Aerial footage captured flames shooting from the hole before additional video showed what appeared to be the burned remains of the drone inside.

Zelensky claimed the attack caused significant damage to the structure and ignited a fire.

The blaze has since been extinguished.

Radiation levels have not risen since the attack and officials continue to monitor the readings.

The reported attack happened just after 2 a.m. 62 miles north of Kyiv.

Zelensky blasted Russia for the dangerous attack, saying the structure was built by many European countries “committed to real security of the world.”

“The only country in the world that attacks such sites, occupies nuclear power plants, and wages war without any regard for the consequences is today’s Russia,” he said.

Zelensky claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin isn’t ready to sit down with Ukraine and the United States to discuss ending the war that started nearly three years ago on Feb. 24, 2022.

The 47-year-old president called out Putin for his “anti-human rhetoric” and the daily attacks on his country that have damaged major cities’ infrastructure and killed thousands since the war started.

“This means that Putin is definitely not preparing for negotiations — he is preparing to continue deceiving the world. That is why there must be unified pressure from all who value life – pressure on the aggressor. Russia must be held accountable for its actions,” he said.

The power plant has been a target throughout the war, with Russian Troops capturing control of the Chernobyl Exclusion area on the first day of the attacks.

Putin later threatened Ukraine with a “new Chernobyl” occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

Following the deadly Chernobyl Power Plant meltdown in 1986, a structure, aptly named the sarcophagus was erected around the reactor as construction took place over 206 days.

Because of the high levels of radiation from the reactor, workers couldn’t fully seal off the destroyed building from the outside world.

The design, first created 24 days after the incident, was given a life span of 20 to 30 years, leaving officials to need a better more permanent protective cover.

In November 2016, the current domed structure was rolled into place over the reactor and the sarcophagus.

with Post wires