IAEA warns Chernobyl barrier loses safety function.
The IAEA says the steel dome of the Chernobyl National Safety Control (NSC) system was breached after a drone attack in February, reducing its protective capacity; it has called for urgent major repairs and the deployment of experts.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has warned that the protective barrier covering reactor number 4 at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant has lost its key safety functions, including its ability to hold the barrier in place, following a drone attack in February. The IAEA has called for urgent major repairs to fully restore the structure's functionality.
A new assessment, conducted after an inspection following what is believed to be the first major attack on the containment structure, shows that a breach in the outer shell of the New Safe Confinement (NSC) steel dome compromised its capacity to contain nuclear material. The initial damage did not result in a radioactive leak.
Assess the damage and safety level.
The IAEA confirmed that the NSC “has lost key safety functions, including its shielding capability.” The organization stated that the barrier's support structure and monitoring system remain intact. Some temporary repairs have been made, but to a limited extent; the IAEA stressed the need for immediate full restoration. The agency has dispatched additional nuclear safety experts to the site to fully assess the extent of the damage.
According to verified information, the attack breached the outer shell of the steel dome and caused a fire. Although there was initially no radiation leak, subsequent assessments indicated a reduction in the containment capacity of the shield.
Key specifications of the New Safe Confinement (NSC)
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Type of structure | New Safe Maintenance Steel Dome (NSC) Structure |
| Mass | Approximately 36,000 tons |
| Completion time | 2019 |
| Location | Built on top of the destroyed Reactor No. 4 at Chernobyl |
| Design function | The container holding the radioactive material and the original sealed concrete box after the 1986 disaster. |
| Construction costs | Approximately $1.6 billion |
Background and related events
The February drone attack was described as the first major attack targeting the perimeter fence. Moscow called it a provocation orchestrated by Kyiv; Ukraine blamed Russia. These conflicting accusations have not been independently confirmed by the parties involved in this report.
In other developments, Russia has repeatedly accused Ukraine of attacking the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) and Kursk, calling it “nuclear terrorism.” In late September, a Ukrainian drone allegedly attacked an auxiliary building at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, during a visit to Moscow by IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. Just days before, power lines supplying the ZNPP were reportedly damaged by artillery fire, forcing the plant to switch to backup generators. Russia has controlled the ZNPP since March 2022, and the region subsequently held a referendum to annex it; Kyiv denies involvement in the Kursk incident and accuses Moscow of attacking the ZNPP. Speaking in October, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Ukraine was “playing a dangerous game” by attacking nuclear facilities.
IAEA-mandated corrective measures
- Restore all safety functions of the NSC immediately, instead of just making temporary repairs.
- Further assessment of the damage will be conducted with the participation of nuclear safety experts dispatched by the IAEA.
- Maintain the monitoring system and ensure the structural framework remains intact, and that its safe operation is verified.
Level of information reliability
- Information regarding the condition of the NSC, the extent of damage, the current state of the structural framework, and the monitoring system has been confirmed by the IAEA.
- The developments in the ZNPP and Kursk, along with the reciprocal accusations between Moscow and Kyiv, are presented based on statements from the parties involved. This article does not draw conclusions beyond what the sources indicate.
