🔗 Share this article Chernobyl Disaster Shelter No Longer Effectively Blocks Harmful Radiation, Requires Major Restoration – International Atomic Energy Agency The containment structure covering the Chernobyl reactor core within Ukraine can no longer perform its main safety function of blocking radiation, according to the IAEA. This failure comes after a drone strike in February that caused significant damage in the structure. Damage from Aerial Attack Degrades Safety Structure A drone strike in the second month of the year caused a breach in the so-called “New Safe Confinement” arch. This enormous protective structure, constructed for €1.5bn with work finishing in 2019, was designed to contain radiation over the long term. A recent IAEA assessment mission found 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 sensor systems. Historical Context of the Chernobyl Containment The initial 1986 explosion at the Chernobyl plant – which occurred when Ukraine was part of the USSR – spewed radiation across Europe. In a hurried containment effort, Soviet engineers constructed a concrete shelter over the damaged reactor, but it had a 30-year lifespan. The New Safe Confinement was constructed to enable the future decommissioning of the old sarcophagus, the destroyed reactor hall, and the melted nuclear fuel itself. Present Status and Necessary Steps While some repairs have been carried out, agency officials emphasized that a full-scale repair effort is essential. This is needed to prevent further degradation and to ensure safety for the coming decades. Ukrainian authorities had stated that a unmanned aircraft carrying a powerful explosive hit the plant, causing a fire and compromising the protective cladding. Radiation Readings: Reports indicated background radiation remained 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 during the initial stages of the full-scale war. Broader Inspection: The IAEA carried out this inspection concurrently with a country-wide assessment of conflict-related damage to Ukraine's electricity infrastructure. The situation underscore the ongoing vulnerabilities at one of the world's most notorious atomic accident locations during ongoing hostilities.