🔗 Share this article Chernobyl Disaster Shelter Can No Longer Blocks Radiation, Needs Significant Restoration – IAEA The containment structure encasing the Chornobyl reactor core in Ukraine can no longer perform its main function of containing radioactive material, according to the IAEA. This loss of function follows a drone attack earlier this year that caused significant damage in the protective shell. Damage from Drone Strike Compromises Safety Structure A drone strike in the second month of the year severely damaged the multibillion-euro “New Safe Confinement” arch. This massive shield, built at a cost of €1.5bn with work finishing in 2019, was designed to contain radiation for decades. An IAEA assessment mission confirmed that the strike had weakened the structural 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 lasting harm to its load-bearing structures or monitoring systems. Background Context of the Chernobyl Shelter The original 1986 disaster at the Chernobyl plant – at a time when Ukraine was a republic within the Soviet Union – released radiation across Europe. In a hurried containment effort, Soviet engineers constructed a concrete “sarcophagus” over the damaged reactor, though it possessed only a 30-year lifespan. The New Safe Confinement was erected to enable the eventual dismantling of the old sarcophagus, the destroyed reactor hall, and the melted nuclear fuel itself. Current Situation and Necessary Steps Although limited repairs have been carried out, agency officials stressed that comprehensive restoration is absolutely necessary. This is required to prevent further degradation and to ensure long-term nuclear safety. Ukrainian authorities previously reported that a unmanned aircraft carrying a powerful explosive struck the facility, igniting a blaze and compromising the protective cladding. Radiation Readings: Authorities confirmed background radiation remained normal and stable following the attack with no indication of radiation leaks. Geopolitical Context: Moscow's troops occupied the Chernobyl exclusion zone for over a month in the early stages of the 2022 invasion. Wider Assessment: The agency conducted this review alongside a country-wide assessment of conflict-related damage to the country's power substations. The situation underscore the persistent risks at one of the the planet's most infamous nuclear disaster sites amid continued armed conflict.