The giant steel shield protecting the damaged Chornobyl nuclear reactor can no longer fully block radiation after a drone strike earlier in 2025, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said. The February attack punched a hole in the New Safe Confinement, a massive arch built to seal off radioactive remains from the 1986 disaster.
IAEA inspectors said the strike had caused a fire and weakened the structure’s protective cladding, though its supporting frame and monitoring systems remain intact. Fortunately, radiation levels stayed within normal ranges, and no leaks were reported. Still, the agency warned that the temporary roof repairs are insufficient.
The Chornobyl accident in 1986 released a massive radioactive plume that spread across Europe and caused deaths and long-term health problems. Soviet authorities hastily built a concrete cover over the destroyed reactor, but it was riddled with flaws and deteriorated over time. To address those risks, the New Safe Confinement was completed in 2019. Designed to last at least 100 years, the project cost billions of euros and was funded by dozens of countries.
The U.N. nuclear watchdog is supporting efforts for full restoration, stressing that timely repairs are essential to ensure safety