December 7, 2025
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced Friday that Chernobyl's New Safe Confinement (NSC) — the massive protective arch over the 1986 disaster site — has lost its ability to contain radioactive materials due to severe damage from a February drone strike.
The February 14 strike, which Ukraine attributes to Russia (denied by the Kremlin), sparked a fire and compromised the structure's cladding. A recent IAEA inspection confirmed the NSC has "lost its primary safety functions, including the confinement capability."
However, load-bearing structures and monitoring systems remain undamaged, with no radiation increase detected at the site.
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi stressed the need for comprehensive repairs, noting limited temporary fixes have been made. The agency, with on-site experts, pledged continued support for restoration.
Completed in 2019 at €2.1 billion and funded internationally, the NSC — the world's largest movable land structure — was designed to secure the ruined Reactor No. 4 for 100 years.
Chernobyl has faced risks during Russia's nearly four-year war, including a brief 2022 occupation by Russian forces.
The 1986 explosion released widespread radiation, killing over 30 immediately and causing long-term health issues, including elevated cancer and birth defects in affected areas. Radiation levels remain normal despite the damage.
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