🔗 Share this article Chornobyl Disaster Containment Structure No Longer Blocks Radiation, Needs Major Restoration – International Atomic Energy Agency The protective shield encasing the Chernobyl reactor core in Ukraine can no longer perform its main safety function of blocking radiation, according to the IAEA. This failure comes after a drone strike earlier this year that caused significant damage in the protective shell. Damage from Drone Strike Degrades Safety Structure A drone strike in February caused a breach in the multibillion-euro “New Safe Confinement” structure. This massive shield, constructed for €1.5bn and completed in 2019, was designed to contain radiation over the long term. A recent IAEA assessment mission found that the strike had degraded the integrity of the steel arch. The containment arch's main safety functions, such as confinement, are no longer operational, stated IAEA director general Rafael Grossi. He added that inspectors found no lasting harm to its load-bearing structures or monitoring systems. Background Context of the Chernobyl Shelter The initial 1986 disaster at the Chernobyl plant – at a time when Ukraine was part of the USSR – released radiation across Europe. In a hurried containment effort, Soviet authorities constructed a concrete shelter over the damaged reactor, though it possessed only a three-decade design life. The New Safe Confinement was erected to enable the eventual dismantling of the old sarcophagus, the destroyed reactor hall, and the molten fuel itself. Present Status and Necessary Steps Although limited repairs have been carried out, the IAEA emphasized that a full-scale repair effort is absolutely necessary. This is needed to stop additional deterioration and to ensure long-term nuclear safety. Ukrainian authorities had stated that a drone armed with a high-explosive warhead struck the plant, causing a fire and damaging the outer shielding. Radiation Readings: Authorities confirmed radiation levels remained normal and stable after the incident with no reports of any leakage. Conflict Background: Russian forces occupied the Chornobyl site for over a month during the initial phase of the 2022 invasion. Broader Inspection: The agency carried out this inspection alongside a country-wide assessment of war damage to the country's electricity infrastructure. These developments underscore the persistent risks at one of the the planet's most infamous nuclear disaster sites during continued armed conflict.