Drone strike damages Chernobyl radiation shield

A Russian drone attack in February 2024 struck the New Safe Confinement (NSC) dome at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, according to multiple reports. The impact created a 15-square-meter hole in the structure, as reported by major media outlets. The drone flew very low, under the radar, and afterwards parts were seen lying in the snow, according to Aftonbladet, citing Shaun Burnie, a senior nuclear specialist at Greenpeace Ukraine. The IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi confirmed that the protective structure had lost its primary safety functions, including confinement capability, but also found no permanent damage to load-bearing structures or monitoring systems, according to an official statement. However, the degradation of the steel structure means it no longer blocks radiation effectively, Grossi said, as reported by major media.

The inner sarcophagus at Chernobyl risks collapsing, according to Shaun Burnie, as reported by Aftonbladet. He described the NSC as more a machine than a building, a machine that cost €2 billion to build. Inside the reactor there is lots of nuclear fuel, nuclear material, radioactive debris, concrete, steel, and graphite from the reactor core, Burnie said, according to Aftonbladet. There are four tonnes of highly radioactive dust inside the sarcophagus, Burnie told major media. He warned that if the sarcophagus collapses, it would be catastrophic because of the four tonnes of highly radioactive dust and fuel pellets, and that because the NSC cannot be repaired at the moment, there is a possibility of radioactive releases, as reported by major media. A rocket strike within 200 meters of the confinement could cause an earthquake-like impact, increasing collapse risk, according to Tarakanov, as reported by Daily Express - Main. Tarakanov also noted that radioactive particles do not recognize borders, as reported by Daily Express - Main.

Repairs to the NSC are estimated to cost around €500 million, according to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, as reported by major media. "We presented this evening the first financial estimate of the damage caused by this drone which amounts to around €500 million," Barrot said at a press conference. The NSC originally cost €2 billion to build, according to major media, though some sources have reported a cost of €1.5 billion, with the discrepancy possibly reflecting different sources or exchange rates. The scale of investment underscores the importance of the structure, which was designed to contain radiation for the next century. The current status of repairs remains unclear, and the timeline for comprehensive restoration has not been announced. Russia has not acknowledged or commented on the drone attack. The specific radioactive materials inside the sarcophagus and their potential impact if released are also not fully known. The likelihood of an imminent collapse of the inner sarcophagus remains uncertain, but experts warn that any further damage could have severe consequences.