UN warns Chornobyl’s containment safety compromised after drone strike

A drone attack on the Chornobyl New Safe Confinement has damaged its safety functions, raising concerns over long-term nuclear security amid ongoing regional tensions.

The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog has warned that the protective steel confinement built over reactor four at Chornobyl can no longer fulfil its primary safety role after being struck by a drone in February, a degradation uncovered during an IAEA inspection last week.

According to the Internat...

ional Atomic Energy Agency, the inspection found the drone impact had “lost its primary safety functions, including the confinement capability, but also found that there was no permanent damage to its load-bearing structures or monitoring systems.” IAEA director general Rafael Grossi said repairs had already been carried out “but comprehensive restoration remains essential to prevent further degradation and ensure long-term nuclear safety”.

Ukraine reported the strike on 14 February 2025, saying a drone fitted with a high‑explosive warhead caused a fire and damaged the cladding of the New Safe Confinement , the €1.5bn structure completed in 2019 to enclose the remains of the 1986 disaster. Kyiv blamed Russian forces; Moscow denied carrying out the attack. The IAEA and other monitors say radiation levels have remained normal and stable and there have been no reports of leaks.

The New Safe Confinement was designed as a long‑term shelter to allow the eventual dismantling of the original sarcophagus and the safe removal of fuel‑containing material. Industry data and technical accounts note the structure’s dual layers of cladding and robust steel frame, and the IAEA emphasised that, while load‑bearing elements appear intact, the loss of confinement capability undermines the shelter’s central protective function.

The agency carried out the Chornobyl inspection alongside a countrywide survey of war damage to Ukraine’s electrical infrastructure. Grossi framed the incident alongside continuing military activity at other nuclear sites, saying it underlined the need for vigilance and full restoration work to secure long‑term safety.

Source: Noah Wire Services