The protective shield covering the Chernobyl nuclear reactor within Ukraine has lost its primary function of containing radioactive material, as announced by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This loss of function follows a drone attack in February that blew a hole in the protective shell.
A drone strike in the second month of the year severely damaged the so-called “New Safe Confinement” arch. This enormous protective structure, constructed for €1.5bn and completed in 2019, was intended to contain radiation for decades. An IAEA inspection last week confirmed that the strike had weakened the integrity of the steel confinement.
The containment arch's main safety functions, such as confinement, are no longer operational, stated IAEA director general Rafael Grossi. Grossi noted that inspectors found no permanent damage to key support structures or sensor systems.
The initial 1986 explosion at the Chernobyl plant – which occurred when Ukraine was a republic within the Soviet Union – spewed radioactive fallout over much of Europe. In a hurried response, Soviet authorities built a concrete “sarcophagus” over the damaged reactor, though it possessed only a 30-year lifespan. The New Safe Confinement was erected to allow for the eventual decommissioning of the old sarcophagus, the damaged reactor building, and the molten fuel itself.
While some repair work has been done, agency officials stressed that a full-scale repair effort is essential. This is required to prevent further degradation and to ensure safety for the coming decades. Officials in Ukraine previously reported that a unmanned aircraft armed with a high-explosive warhead hit the facility, igniting a blaze and damaging the outer shielding.
The situation underscore the persistent risks at one of the world's most notorious atomic accident locations during ongoing armed conflict.
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