The Chernobyl nuclear disaster site’s protective shield can no longer confine radioactive waste due to damage inflicted by a Russian drone strike earlier this year, the International Atomic Energy Agency said.
In a statement Friday, the U.N. nuclear watchdog said its experts confirmed that the new safe confinement structure at the Chernobyl site “lost its primary safety functions, including the confinement capability,” after a February drone strike that sparked a major fire in the outer cladding of the massive steel arch.
While inspectors found no permanent damage to the structure’s load-bearing elements or monitoring systems, the IAEA warned that only “limited temporary repairs” have been made and that comprehensive restoration is urgently needed to prevent further degradation and protect long-term nuclear safety.
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