The Outer Shielding Of The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Has Been Destroyed
- 6.12.2025, 12:30
The sarcophagus has lost its basic security functions.
The protective function of the New Safe Confinement (NSC) of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant was compromised after a drone strike on the plant's containment in February. This is according to a press release from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which last week sent a team of experts to the Chernobyl plant to assess the safety of the containment, writes The Moscow Times.
"The mission confirmed that the NSC has lost its basic safety functions, including the ability to contain [radiation], but also found that its supporting structures or monitoring systems have not been irreversibly damaged," it says The impact caused "significant damage" to the NSC and started a fire, which was promptly extinguished. The Ukrainian president also published a video showing a drone crashing into a protective structure designed to protect the environment from the spread of radiation. The IAEA reported at the time that there were no signs of breach of the ChNPP's inner shell.
"Limited temporary repairs have been made to the [NSC] roof, but timely and comprehensive restoration remains critical to prevent further damage and ensure long-term nuclear safety," IAEA Director General Raphael Grossi said on December 5.
The agency recommended further rehabilitation and protection work of the NSC structure, including measures to control moisture and corrosion, and to upgrade the shelter's (old containment structure) integrated automatic monitoring system. Next year, with the support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), additional temporary repair work will be carried out at the Chernobyl NPP to restore the localization functions of the NSC, the IAEA added.