Chernobyl threatens Europe, power plant containment structure damaged in drone attack

(Patria) - The containment structure of the abandoned Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which is supposed to prevent the spread of radioactive material, can no longer fulfill its safety function due to damage caused in a drone attack at the beginning of the year, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced on Friday.

An inspection of the containment structure conducted by the IAEA last week showed that the drone attack in February caused deterioration of the structure, the UN agency announced.

The mission confirmed that the containment structure has lost its "primary containment functions", including the function of retaining radioactive material, but there is no permanent damage to the load-bearing structure and control systems, the statement said.

Temporary repairs have already been carried out on the roof, said the head of the agency, Rafael Grossi, emphasizing that comprehensive renovation is necessary to prevent further deterioration and ensure long-term nuclear safety.

Based on the investigation, the IAEA recommends further renovation and protection of the structure, as well as updating the moisture and corrosion monitoring systems and other surveillance programs, the statement said.

On February 14, a drone penetrated the outer shell of the containment structure and caused a fire. Ukrainian authorities announced at the time that the attack was carried out by Russia, which Moscow denied.

The containment structure was erected in 2019 around reactor number four, which exploded in the nuclear disaster of 1986, to prevent further radiation leakage into the environment.

After the drone attack, radiation remained at a normal and stable level, and there were no reports of radiation leaks, the UN announced in February.

The Chernobyl accident occurred in April 1986. Soviet engineers placed a sarcophagus around the reactor, which was later replaced by a new structure. The remaining three reactors were gradually shut down, with the last one taken out of operation in 2000.

Russian forces briefly occupied the nuclear power plant at the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The IAEA has a permanent team of experts at Chernobyl and will continue to do everything in its power to support the re-establishment of full nuclear safety in Chernobyl, emphasized the head of the UN agency.

Concurrently with the Chernobyl inspection, the IAEA also conducted an investigation into the damage to power substations across Ukraine.