Inspectors warn of critical damage to Chernobyl containment structure after alleged drone attack

[Alfonso Maruccia]

In a nutshell: A massive containment structure meant to keep the Chernobyl ruins stable for decades may now be critically compromised. New IAEA inspections point to war-related damage that could threaten the integrity of the site and raise long-term risks for the surrounding region.

United Nations experts are calling for urgent repairs to Chernobyl's New Safe Confinement, the structure built as an additional shield against radiation from the failed nuclear power plant. Inspectors with the International Atomic Energy Agency recently said the structure has lost its primary safety and containment functions.

Earlier this year, a drone strike targeted the Safe Confinement. Ukraine accused Russia of the attack, though the Kremlin denied involvement. Inspectors from the IAEA now warn that urgent repairs are needed to prevent further degradation of the massive structure.

Last week, IAEA inspectors assessed the site and found the New Safe Confinement "severely damaged" by the drone strike, which also caused a fire in the outer steel structure. While the load-bearing structures and monitoring systems were not permanently harmed, Ukrainian staff completed some roof repairs, though additional work is needed to restore containment fully. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stressed that timely and thorough restoration is critical to prevent further degradation and maintain long-term nuclear safety.

Jim Smith, professor of environmental science at the University of Portsmouth, UK, says there is no need to panic - yet. Having studied the original Chernobyl fallout, he identifies radioactive dust as the site's most pressing concern. Warfare-related activities could disturb and carry the material. However, the risk remains low, as the sarcophagus - the thick concrete structure built by the Soviet Union around the exploded reactor in 1986 - still contains the contaminated dust.

Civil and military personnel in the "Chernobyl liquidators" squads hastily deployed the sarcophagus, which had a 30-year lifespan. Once it reached that limit in 2016, they built the much larger New Safe Confinement around the sarcophagus. It should insulate Chernobyl's radioactive remains for at least 100 years.

The Chernobyl disaster left the city of Pripyat abandoned and caused an estimated 9,000 cancer-related deaths across Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia, according to WHO projections. The worst nuclear accident in history threatened to spread radioactive material from reactor No. 4 across Russia and Europe. However, containment efforts led by European and Russian authorities have prevented the worst - so far.

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Inspectors warn of critical damage to Chernobyl containment structure after alleged drone attack

 

[wiyosaya]

Let's send Putin it to do the repairs himself.

 

[Vulcanproject]

Only utter morons would dig trenches in the most radioactive soil in the world and sit in them for several weeks. Then attack and damage the confinement structure for the world's worst radiological disaster.

All of it in absolutely nobody's interest, except malicious mafia wanting to sow chaos.

 

[AlexIL]

It screams “give us more money to steal”. World’s worst radiological disaster is Fukusima and somehow we don’t hear much from Japanese despite constant tsunamis and typhoons over there. All the while continuous cries from Ukrainians about their reactor that is supposedly shut down and dormant under tons of concrete. We’re not stupid.

 

[p51d007]

Chernobyl...another FAILURE of the Soviet Union & socialism/communism.
Cheap graphite reactor, overheating due to lack of cooling. One of the reasons
we don't have those type of reactors in the USA. When Oak Ridge was messing
around with those I think they saw the design flaw. Yes, we had Three Mile Island,
but at least our safety features pretty much worked.
The Chernobyl disaster will be around for hundreds of years.

 

[Str8Shot]

40 years later, and the supposed lethal radiation levels in the area have resulted in vegetation and wildlife levels as those pre-meltdown of the reactor. I think they’re more concerned with the truth coming out rather than the actual radiation-scare.

A good reference and eye-opener into history and the fakery that’s been perpetrated by governments: Michael Palmer MD, Hiroshima Revisited.

 

[Thrackerzod]

40 years later, and the supposed lethal radiation levels in the area have resulted in vegetation and wildlife levels as those pre-meltdown of the reactor. I think they’re more concerned with the truth coming out rather than the actual radiation-scare.

A good reference and eye-opener into history and the fakery that’s been perpetrated by governments: Michael Palmer MD, Hiroshima Revisited.

There aren't enough facepalms in the world for this crackpot lunacy.

 

[Mr Majestyk]

There aren't enough facepalms in the world for this crackpot lunacy.

Yeah, that's some unhinged horsesh!te he spewed forth. This would be on the level of Trump's insane midnight tweet rants.

 

[RaXelliX]

It screams “give us more money to steal”. World’s worst radiological disaster is Fukusima and somehow we don’t hear much from Japanese despite constant tsunamis and typhoons over there. All the while continuous cries from Ukrainians about their reactor that is supposedly shut down and dormant under tons of concrete. We’re not stupid.

Dude there's literally a hole in the roof. Nuclear safety is in everyone's best interest. This is one place where being a cheap a** will bite you in the a**. Yes. Lets save a few bucks on radiation containment. Japanese also dont have Chinese drones blowing up Fukushima remains. Not to mention that Fukushima was nowhere near as severe as Chernobyl was.

 

[jeffbert]

As I recall, the Soviets designed the thing with minimum safeguards, if any. I guess their economy would not support anything more, but, whatever the reason, nobody to blame but themselves. Now, the question is, are there other similar nuclear reactors in Russia or the former Soviet States?