International alarm is rising after a Russian drone strike damaged the colossal $2 billion (£1.5bn) protective structure covering the ruins of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, potentially undermining its critical safety functions.
Damage to the New Safe Confinement
The attack, which occurred in February, targeted the New Safe Confinement (NSC) in Ukraine. This immense steel arch was painstakingly constructed to encase the remains of Reactor 4, which catastrophically exploded in 1986 in one of history's worst nuclear incidents. The United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed the damage and has now completed a safety assessment.
The watchdog's findings, delivered this month, are concerning. The assessment concluded that the dome has lost its primary safety functions, including its vital ability to confine radioactive material. While some limited temporary repairs have been made to the roof, IAEA director general Rafael Mariano Grossi stressed that comprehensive restoration is urgently needed.
IAEA Calls for Urgent Action
"Timely and comprehensive restoration remains essential to prevent further degradation and ensure long-term nuclear safety," Grossi warned. The agency has called for the damage to be fully repaired and recommended enhanced corrosion monitoring. It also advocates for an automatic system to maintain control of the radioactive reactor core.
Grossi highlighted the indispensable role of the site's electrical substations, which were also compromised. "These substations are essential for nuclear safety and security," he stated. "They are absolutely indispensable for providing the electricity all nuclear power plants need for reactor cooling and other safety systems."
Despite the serious damage, the IAEA noted some positive elements. The main structure of the NSC and its integrated monitoring systems are still intact. The agency, which maintains a permanent team at the site, has pledged continued support to restore safety and security at Chernobyl.
The Legacy of the 1986 Disaster
The site has been under intense international scrutiny since the 1986 disaster, which resulted in one of the largest uncontrolled releases of radioactive material ever recorded. The immediate explosion and acute radiation poisoning are estimated to have killed between 30 and 50 people.
Long-term deaths from cancers linked to radiation exposure are harder to quantify, though the UN's Chernobyl Forum has projected a potential figure of around 4,000. The exclusion zone around the plant has become a stark, living laboratory, with studies showing wildlife, including stray dogs, adapting to the heightened radiation environment over generations.
