🔗 Share this article Chernobyl Disaster Shelter Can No Longer Effectively Blocks Harmful Radiation, Requires Major Restoration – IAEA The protective shield covering the Chernobyl reactor core in Ukraine has lost its primary function of blocking radiation, according to the IAEA. This failure follows a drone strike in February that blew a hole in the structure. Structural Compromise from Aerial Attack Degrades Safety System A drone strike in February caused a breach in the so-called “New Safe Confinement” structure. This enormous protective structure, built at a cost of €1.5bn with work finishing in 2019, was designed to seal off radioactive material over the long term. A recent IAEA assessment mission found that the strike had degraded the integrity of the steel confinement. The [protective structure] had lost its primary safety functions, including the confinement capability, said IAEA director general Rafael Grossi. Grossi noted that the mission confirmed no permanent damage to key support structures or monitoring systems. Background Context of the Chernobyl Containment The original 1986 disaster at the Chernobyl plant – which occurred when Ukraine was a republic within the USSR – spewed radiation over much of Europe. During a frantic containment effort, Soviet engineers constructed a concrete shelter over the damaged reactor, but it had a three-decade design life. The New Safe Confinement was erected to allow for the future decommissioning of the original structure, the damaged reactor building, and the molten fuel within. Current Situation and Necessary Actions While some repairs have been carried out, the IAEA stressed that comprehensive restoration 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 carrying a powerful explosive struck the plant, igniting a blaze and damaging the protective cladding. Radiation Levels: Authorities confirmed radiation levels stayed within safe limits after the incident with no reports of any leakage. Conflict Background: Moscow's troops seized the Chernobyl exclusion zone for over a month in the early stages of the 2022 invasion. Wider Assessment: The agency carried out this inspection concurrently with a country-wide assessment of conflict-related damage to Ukraine's power substations. These developments underscore the persistent risks at one of the world's most infamous atomic accident locations during ongoing hostilities.