The New Safe Confinement (NSC), designed to contain radiation from the 1986 nuclear meltdown, is no longer functioning as intended, according to a warning from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). While no radioactive material has been released into the environment, experts are urging immediate repairs to prevent further damage and ensure long-term nuclear safety.
The New Safe Confinement was completed in 2016 and is the largest movable land structure in the world. Its purpose is to secure the remains of Reactor 4, which exploded in 1986, by containing the remaining radioactive material. The structure was designed to last for a century, but the February 2025 drone attack has undermined its ability to perform its critical function of radiation containment, raising concerns about the future safety of the site.
Drone Strike Causes Significant Damage
On February 14, 2025, a drone strike hit the New Safe Confinement at Chernobyl, igniting a fire and causing significant damage to the structure’s protective cladding. The attack resulted in the loss of the shield’s ability to safely contain radioactive materials. According to the IAEA, while no radioactive material was released into the environment, the incident rendered the protective shield ineffective. Temporary repairs were carried out to the roof, but the IAEA has emphasized that comprehensive restoration is essential to ensure long-term nuclear safety, reports CNN.
Damage at the Chernobyl New Safe Confinement structure – © Reuters
Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the IAEA, stated that the structural damage could lead to further degradation if not properly addressed. Although the load-bearing structures and monitoring systems remain intact, the NSC’s primary function of radiation containment has been compromised. The IAEA has urged for urgent, extensive repairs to prevent further deterioration of the structure and to restore its safety function.
Urgency of Comprehensive Repairs
The IAEA’s warning underscores the importance of quickly restoring the integrity of the New Safe Confinement. While the temporary repairs to the roof are a short-term solution, they are insufficient to address the underlying structural damage.
Fragments of a drone that struck the New Safe Confinement in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone following the February 14, 2025, attack – © Artem Derkachov/Frontliner
Grossi stressed that without comprehensive restoration, the NSC could face further degradation, potentially leading to an increased risk of radiation exposure. The New Safe Confinement was built to last for 100 years, but the drone attack has revealed how vulnerable such critical infrastructure can be in conflict zones.
The NSC is a monumental engineering project, funded by over 45 countries and organizations at a cost of €2.1 billion. It was built not only to secure the Chernobyl site but also to enable the long-term clean-up of the area. Its damage highlights the challenges of maintaining nuclear safety in regions affected by ongoing conflict, as well as the risks posed by military activity near nuclear facilities.
Geopolitical Tensions and Nuclear Security
The attack on Chernobyl’s protective shield is tied to the broader geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine. Ukraine has accused Russia of carrying out the drone strike, though Moscow has denied responsibility.
The strike is part of a wider pattern of military activity that has affected nuclear infrastructure in Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in 2022. Russian forces seized the Chernobyl site early in the war, which led to concerns about the safety of the plant and its staff. Although Ukraine regained control of the site, the incident underscores the vulnerability of nuclear facilities during times of conflict.
In addition to Chernobyl, other nuclear plants in Ukraine, including the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, have been affected by the war. The IAEA has reported daily military activity near the Zaporizhzhya plant, raising alarm over the risks to nuclear safety. The situation at Chernobyl further highlights the need for robust safeguards to protect nuclear facilities from the dangers of war and military strikes, reports IFLScience.