The United Nations Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that the giant roof protecting Chernobyl Reactory No. 4 has lost the ability to isolate radiation after a UAV ( drones) attack in February this year.
The New Safe Confinement (NSC) - a technology symbol built to seal the Chernobyl nuclear disaster - has been severely weakened after a drone attack, IAEA said on December 5.
The UN nuclear watchdog affirmed that the structure no longer performs its main safety functions, including radioactive isolation.
The attack took place on February 14, when Ukraine accused Russian forces of targeting the NSC roof placed above the No. 4 reactor that exploded in 1986. Moscow denied it. The collision caused a fire and damaged the protective layer of the giant roof, according to confirmation from IAEA.
Some temporary reinforcement measures have been taken on the roof, but a comprehensive and timely restoration is extremely important to avoid further deterioration and ensure long-term safety, according to IAEA.
There was no permanent damage to the load-bearing structure or monitoring system, said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, but he stressed the need for major restoration.
The agency is maintaining a permanent presence in Chernobyl and has said it will do everything possible to support the full restoration of nuclear safety and security there.
The NSC is a massive, supply-side steel arch, installed to completely cover the No. 4 reactor - the focus of the worst nuclear disaster in history.
Built in 2010 and completed in 2019, the canopy is designed with a lifespan of 100 years, ensuring a safe working environment for radioactive waste cleaning and treatment activities.
The project costs 2.1 billion euros, with financial contributions from more than 45 countries and organized through the Chernobyl shield Fund. In 2019, the European Bank for reconstruction and Development called this the largest international cooperation ever in the field of nuclear safety.
Chernobyl has not been the focus of the nearly four-year conflict between Russia and Ukraine for the first time. In the early days of the military campaign in 2022, Russian forces flooded the factory area, controlling the entire facility and operation staff for more than a month, before withdrawing and handing over control to Ukraine.
On April 26, 1986, the No. 4 reactor explosion spread radioactively widely, spreading to Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and many other regions. More than 30 people died in the first days, thousands of people suffered long-term health effects. The World Health Organization (WHO) and IAEA have recorded that the rate of cancer and birth defects in exposed areas is still high.
Now, with the damaged NSC canopy, fears of a new risk in Chernobyl are rising, and a thorough repair of the project is becoming an urgent priority to avoid repeating past hauntings.
