Warning sign in front of a destroyed vehicle at Chernobyl.Image: keystone
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the radiation protective envelope around the damaged Ukrainian nuclear power plant needs extensive renovation as soon as possible.
Dec 6, 2025, 10:57 amDec 6, 2025, 10:58
Limited interim repairs have been carried out following a Russian drone strike in February, but a timely and comprehensive recovery is needed, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said, according to the statement. This is the only way to ensure long-term nuclear safety.
Accordingly, the latest safety assessment by an IAEA team found that the shell had lost its primary protective functions after the drone impact. This also includes their ability to contain them.
View of the security blanket that protects the remains of reactor number four in the former nuclear power plant – and was hit by kamikaze drones.Image: keystone
The agency is now recommending additional recovery and protection measures, including moisture control, an updated corrosion monitoring program and improving the automated monitoring system for the sarcophagus that was built over the stricken reactor immediately after the disaster.
According to the authority, further temporary repairs will be carried out in the coming year to improve the containment ability of the envelope.
Occupied by Russians
In February, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a Russian drone damaged the protective cover of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which was damaged almost 40 years ago. Increased radiation levels were not reported afterwards. The Kremlin had denied a Russian attack on the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
In the Russian war of aggression, which has been going on for almost four and a half years, there are repeated incidents at the partially decommissioned nuclear power plants in Ukraine. According to Kiev, the sarcophagus above the destroyed reactor block of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant was last without power at the beginning of October.
The Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, which has been shut down and occupied by Russian troops since March 2022, was disconnected from external power supplies for around a month in the fall.
(sda/dpa)