Russia: Israel strike on Iran nuclear site risks another Chernobyl

Russia has issued a stark warning about the potential consequences of an Israeli strike on Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant, cautioning that such an attack could lead to a "Chernobyl-style" nuclear disaster. The Bushehr facility, Iran’s only operational nuclear power plant, was constructed by Russia and currently employs hundreds of Russian specialists. Moscow has expressed serious concerns about the plant’s safety amid escalating hostilities between Iran and Israel, with Russian officials noting that some personnel have already been evacuated, though many remain. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Israel had assured Russia that Bushehr would not be targeted, but Russia’s nuclear agency Rosatom remains prepared to evacuate workers on short notice if necessary. The conflict between Iran and Israel has intensified with mutual missile and bomb attacks. Israel accused Iran of using cluster bombs—munitions that disperse smaller bomblets posing long-term risks to civilians—in a densely populated area, marking the first reported use of such weapons in this war. Iranian missile