🔗 Share this article Chornobyl Catastrophe Shelter No Longer Effectively Blocks Harmful Radiation, Needs Major Repair – IAEA The containment structure covering the Chornobyl reactor core within Ukraine has lost its primary function of blocking radiation, according to the IAEA. This loss of function follows a drone attack earlier this year that caused significant damage in the structure. Damage from Drone Strike Degrades Safety System An attack by an unmanned aerial vehicle 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 intended to contain radiation for decades. A recent IAEA assessment mission found that the drone impact had degraded 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 permanent damage to key support structures or monitoring systems. Background Context of the Chornobyl Containment The initial 1986 explosion at the Chernobyl plant – which occurred when Ukraine was part of the USSR – spewed radiation over much of Europe. During a frantic response, Soviet authorities constructed a concrete “sarcophagus” over the ruined 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 molten fuel within. Current Situation and Necessary Actions While some repairs have been carried out, agency officials stressed that a full-scale repair effort is essential. This is required to stop additional deterioration and to ensure safety for the coming decades. Officials in Ukraine previously reported that a unmanned aircraft carrying a powerful explosive struck the facility, igniting a blaze and compromising the protective cladding. Radiation Levels: Reports indicated background radiation stayed normal and stable following the attack with no indication of any leakage. Geopolitical Context: Russian forces occupied the Chernobyl exclusion zone for over a month in the early stages of the 2022 invasion. Wider Assessment: The agency conducted this inspection concurrently with a nationwide survey of war damage to Ukraine's electricity infrastructure. The situation underscore the ongoing vulnerabilities at one of the the planet's most notorious atomic accident locations during ongoing armed conflict.