🔗 Share this article Chornobyl Disaster Containment Structure Can No Longer Effectively Blocks Radiation, Needs Significant Restoration – IAEA The containment structure covering the Chernobyl nuclear reactor within Ukraine has lost its main function of blocking radiation, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This failure comes after a drone strike in February that caused significant damage in the structure. Damage from Drone Strike Compromises Containment System A drone strike in February caused a breach in the so-called “new safe confinement” structure. This enormous protective structure, constructed for €1.5bn and completed in 2019, was intended to contain radiation for decades. A recent IAEA inspection last week confirmed that the drone impact had degraded the integrity of the steel confinement. The [protective structure] had lost its primary safety functions, including the confinement capability, said 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 Chornobyl Shelter The initial 1986 explosion at Chornobyl – which occurred when Ukraine was part of the USSR – released radioactive fallout across Europe. During a frantic response, Soviet engineers constructed a concrete “sarcophagus” over the damaged reactor, but it had a three-decade design life. The new confinement was constructed to enable the eventual dismantling of the old sarcophagus, the destroyed reactor hall, and the melted nuclear fuel itself. Current Situation and Required Actions While some repairs have been carried out, the IAEA emphasized that comprehensive restoration is essential. This is needed to prevent further degradation and to guarantee safety for the coming decades. Officials in Ukraine had stated that a unmanned aircraft carrying a powerful explosive hit the facility, igniting a blaze and compromising the protective cladding. Radiation Levels: Authorities confirmed background radiation stayed normal and stable following the attack with no indication of radiation leaks. Geopolitical Context: Moscow's troops seized the Chernobyl exclusion zone for more than 30 days in the early phase of the 2022 invasion. Broader Inspection: The agency conducted this review concurrently with a country-wide assessment of conflict-related damage to Ukraine's power substations. These developments highlight the persistent risks at one of the the planet's most notorious nuclear disaster sites during ongoing hostilities.