The protective shield built over reactor 4 at Chernobyl has cracked, raising fears that deadly radiation could begin to leak.
Following the world’s worst nuclear disaster in 1986, a $2 billion protective shield, officially known as the New Safe Confinement (NSC), was built over Reactor 4 to contain radiation.
For context, the World Nuclear Association describes the Chernobyl nuclear disaster as a 1986 accident that was the result of a defective reactor design, operated with inadequately trained personnel.
According to the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a Russian drone attack in February severely damaged the dome, which has now lost its main security functions.
A security assessment conducted earlier this month found that, although the dome remains intact and its monitoring systems are working, it has lost its containment capacity.
IAEA Director Rafael Mariano Grossi urged the need for a comprehensive restoration process to ensure long-term nuclear safety.
The agency also suggested improvements to the shield, equipping it with:
- Advanced corrosion monitoring
- A high-tech automatic system to keep the radioactive reactor under control
- Improved humidity control
The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has put the facility at high risk.
Grossi said the IAEA will do everything in its power to support and restore the nuclear safety of the Chernobyl nuclear site.
Additional temporary repairs are planned to be carried out at the site in 2026.
