Why Ukraine's chernobyl protective shield can no longer confine radiation
What's the story
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has announced that the protective shield built around the Chernobyl nuclear disaster site in Ukraine can no longer confine radioactive waste. The damage to the New Safe Confinement (NSC) was caused by a drone strike on February 14, 2025, which the Ukrainian government has blamed on Russia. However, Moscow denies any involvement in the attack.
Attack details
Drone strike damages Chernobyl's protective structure
The NSC which was "severely damaged" by the drone strike, has "lost its primary safety functions, including the confinement capability," the IAEA said in a statement. Built in 2010, the NSC is a massive steel arch designed to prevent radioactive dust from escaping for at least 100 years. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it a "terrorist threat to the entire world," releasing video footage of the drone impact and fire.
Repair plans
Temporary repairs planned for Chernobyl's damaged protective structure
The nuclear watchdog has proposed a significant repair of the massive steel structure. "Limited temporary repairs have been carried out on the roof, but timely and comprehensive restoration remains essential to prevent further degradation and ensure long-term nuclear safety," IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said. Grossi, however, confirmed that no permanent damage was done to the NSC's load-bearing structures or monitoring systems.
Structure significance
Chernobyl's New Safe Confinement structure: An engineering marvel
The NSC, which cost €2.1 billion and was funded by over 45 donor countries through the Chernobyl Shelter Fund, is the world's largest movable land structure. It was completed in 2019 and is a crucial part of securing the site nearly four decades after the worst nuclear power plant accident in history. The 1986 disaster at Reactor No. 4 released radioactivity across Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and beyond.
Report
February attack
On 14 February, the UN stated that Ukrainian officials claimed that a drone carrying a high explosive warhead struck the plant, causing a fire and damaging the protective casing around the reactor. The UN had then reported that radiation levels remained normal and stable, with no reports of radiation leaks. The IAEA conducted the inspection of the site last week concurrently with a countrywide evaluation of damage to electricity substations caused by the Ukraine-Russia war.