The multi-billion-euro protective shield built to contain the radioactive remains of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster has been critically compromised and can no longer perform its primary safety function, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has declared. The damage stems from a drone strike in February, which blew a hole in the structure.
A Critical Breach in the 'New Safe Confinement'
In February, a drone carrying a high-explosive warhead struck the 'New Safe Confinement' (NSC) at the Chornobyl site, causing a fire and damaging the protective cladding. Ukrainian authorities attributed the attack to Russia, a claim Moscow has denied. An IAEA inspection mission last week confirmed the severity of the impact.
The massive steel arch, a €1.5bn (£1.3bn) engineering feat completed in 2019 by a Europe-led consortium, was painstakingly constructed beside the ruined reactor before being slid into place on tracks. Its purpose was to allow for the eventual dismantling of the original Soviet-era 'sarcophagus' and the highly radioactive debris from the 1986 meltdown.
IAEA Assessment and the Lingering Threat
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stated that the inspection confirmed the structure 'had lost its primary safety functions, including the confinement capability'. While the load-bearing structures and monitoring systems were not permanently damaged, the breach means the shield can no longer reliably block radiation from the site.
Grossi emphasised that although some temporary repairs have been made, 'comprehensive restoration remains essential' to prevent further degradation and ensure long-term nuclear safety. The UN reported in February that radiation levels at the site remained normal and stable following the incident, with no reports of leaks.
A History of Catastrophe and Containment
The 1986 explosion at the Chornobyl plant, which occurred when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union, spread radiation across Europe. The initial Soviet response was to entomb the reactor in a concrete sarcophagus with a limited 30-year lifespan. The NSC was designed as a longer-term solution to facilitate the final clean-up over coming decades.
The site has been embroiled in the ongoing conflict since Russia occupied it for over a month during the initial stages of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The recent IAEA inspection was conducted alongside a wider survey of damage to Ukraine's electricity infrastructure.
The breach of the Chornobyl confinement represents a significant setback in the decades-long effort to secure one of the world's most notorious nuclear disaster sites, underscoring the ongoing vulnerabilities posed by the war.
