The protective shield over Ukraine’s infamous Chernobyl nuclear reactor — damaged by a drone strike in February — can no longer fully contain radiation, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed.
New Safe Confinement — Damage Update
In February, the blast from a drone opened a hole in the “New Safe Confinement,” a massive steel structure built to cover the destroyed reactor. The enclosure cost €1.5 billion ($1.75 billion) and was slid into place in 2019 after years of engineering work led by European partners. According to the IAEA, an inspection last week revealed that the drone impact had weakened parts of the steel structure.
Chernobyl — Why the New Structure Was Needed
The original 1986 explosion at Chernobyl, which occurred when Ukraine was still under Soviet control, sent radioactive clouds drifting across Europe. To contain the fallout, Soviet authorities quickly constructed a concrete “sarcophagus” designed to last only 30 years. The newer steel confinement was meant to keep radiation sealed in during the decades-long process of dismantling the sarcophagus, the damaged reactor building, and the melted nuclear fuel inside.
IAEA director general Rafael Grossi said the latest mission “confirmed that the [protective structure] had lost its primary safety functions, including the confinement capability,” though inspectors found no permanent damage to the structure’s load-bearing elements or its monitoring systems.
Grossi added that while some repair work has already been completed, “comprehensive restoration remains essential to prevent further degradation and ensure long-term nuclear safety.”
Ukrainian officials reported to the UN on February 14 that a drone carrying a high-explosive warhead struck the site, sparking a fire and ripping through the protective outer layer of the reactor shell. Ukraine blamed Russia for the attack, while Moscow denied any involvement.
Despite the damage, radiation levels stayed normal and stable at the time, and authorities reported no leaks, the UN said.
Russia briefly occupied the Chornobyl plant and its surrounding exclusion zone during the early weeks of its 2022 invasion as troops attempted to push toward Kyiv.
The IAEA’s inspection coincided with a broader review of war-related damage to electrical substations across Ukraine.
