Russian strikes at Chornobyl NPP pose threat of accident - IAEA report

On December 5, the IAEA Atomic Energy Commission released a detailed report on the damage to the Chornobyl nuclear power plant caused by drone strikes in February. The report states that the Shelter has lost its basic safety functions due to the damage. Urgent repairs are needed there.

This is stated in the IAEA report.

It is a huge metal structure built to contain radioactive emissions from the reactor destroyed in 1986. After the inspection, the IAEA experts found that:

• the shelter has lost its ability to fully isolate hazardous materials;
• the support elements and monitoring systems were not significantly damaged.

"Limited temporary repairs have been made to the roof, but timely and comprehensive restoration remains essential to prevent further degradation and ensure long-term nuclear safety," said IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi.

The IAEA called on the Ukrainian side to continue work to stabilize the structure. Humidity should be controlled, the corrosion tracking system should be updated and the automatic monitoring of the shelter should be modernized.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, the new safe confinement of the Chornobyl NPP was seriously damaged by a russian drone attack in February 2025.