The multi-billion-euro protective shield built to contain the ruins of the Chornobyl nuclear reactor can no longer perform its primary safety function of blocking radiation, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has declared. This critical failure follows a drone strike on the structure in February, which Ukrainian authorities blamed on Russia.
A Critical Breach in the "New Safe Confinement"
An IAEA inspection mission last week assessed the damage to the €1.5 billion (approximately $1.75bn) "New Safe Confinement" (NSC) structure. The agency confirmed that the drone impact, which blew a hole in the protective cladding, has degraded the confinement to the point where it has lost its "primary safety functions," including its crucial radiation confinement capability.
The massive steel arch, a Europe-led initiative completed in 2019, was painstakingly constructed next to the destroyed reactor before being slid into place on tracks. Its purpose was to allow for the decades-long final clean-up of the 1986 meltdown site, containing the original Soviet-era concrete "sarcophagus," the ruined reactor building, and the melted nuclear fuel within.
Background of the Disaster and the Protective Shield
The 1986 explosion at the Chornobyl plant, which occurred when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union, spread radiation across much of Europe. In the immediate aftermath, Soviet engineers hastily constructed a concrete sarcophagus over the reactor, but it was only designed with a 30-year lifespan.
The NSC was built as a permanent solution to secure the site for the next century. The UN reported on 14 February that a drone with a high-explosive warhead struck the plant, causing a fire and damaging the shield. While radiation levels remained normal with no reported leaks, the structural integrity of the confinement was compromised.
IAEA Findings and the Path Forward
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stated that while the inspection found no permanent damage to the structure's load-bearing elements or monitoring systems, the loss of confinement is a severe setback. "Some repairs have been carried out but comprehensive restoration remains essential to prevent further degradation and ensure long-term nuclear safety," Grossi emphasised.
The incident occurred against the backdrop of the ongoing war. Russia occupied the Chornobyl site for over a month following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The IAEA conducted this inspection concurrently with a nationwide survey of damage to Ukraine's electricity infrastructure.
While Moscow has denied attacking the plant, the physical consequences are now clear. The future of one of the world's most complex nuclear safety projects now hinges on urgent and extensive repair work to restore its vital protective role.
