The 2026 Chernobyl exclusion zone wildfires are a series of wildfires burning inside Ukraine's Chernobyl exclusion zone.
The main causes of the fires are linked to the continued Russian invasion of Ukraine.
May On 7 May 2026, a major crown fire was reported, sparked by a crashes of two military drones. By 9 May, it had spread to about 1,100 hectares on the left bank of the Pripyat River.Rishav Kothari, Massive wildfire burns through Chernobyl exclusion zone following UAV crash in UkraineDrone crash causes deadly fires to engulf 1,100 hectares of Chornobyl’s highly radioactive ‘Exclusion Zone’ After the liquidation of the earlier fires, on 14 May, new fire locations were reported. Remains of Russian drones Geran-2 were found at their crash sites.Після ліквідації масштабної пожежі — нові займання: російські дрони знову підпалили Зону відчуження, State Agency of Ukraine of on Exclusion Zone ManagementNew fires erupt in Chernobyl exclusion zone after drone strike
June and July The new major fires began on 25 June. In the next three days the resulting smog spread southward, which worsened the air quality in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast. On 29–30 June, the State Agency of Ukraine of on Exclusion Zone Management reported that forest fires caused by downed Russian drones were still being liquidated.Пожежі у Чорнобильській зоні погіршили якість повітря у Києві та області, — УкргідрометцентрDowned Russian Drones Spark Forest Fires in Chornobyl Exclusion Zone
On 3 July, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU) reported four fire outbreaks in the exclusion zone. This was also confirmed by NASA Fire Information for Resource Management System monitoring. Radiation was reported to be within norms.State Emergency Service reports four fires in Chornobyl zone, radiation remains within norms, 3 July 2026Fire tornado ravages Chernobyl exclusion zone as rescuers battle flames, 3 July 2026 SESU reported that the fire formed a fire tornado.A Fire Tornado Appeared in the Chernobyl Zone on the Ukrainian Side VIDEO, 3 July 2026 On July, 10, the State Emergency Service reported that the fires, which were spreading via litter and fallen timber, were extinguished.Rescuers extinguished fire in Chernobyl exclusion zone, radiation stayed normal, 10 July 2026
See also 2020 Chernobyl exclusion zone wildfires
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