Greenpeace Ukraine reported a significant deterioration in the situation at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant after a Russian drone struck the New Safe Confinement in 2025. This structure is a key element for isolating the destroyed reactor and carrying out the dismantling of hazardous objects.
This is reported by Finway
“In the absence of urgent repairs, the risk of structural collapse significantly increases.”
Experts Warn of Long-Term Consequences of Damage
The ruins of the fourth reactor block and the old sarcophagus, which are under protective cover, now require dismantling. However, due to damage to the outer shell, this work has been halted. Specialists involved in the development of the confinement emphasize that the consequences of the attack could be long-lasting, and an increase in the level of danger is being recorded even before the dismantling begins. From a technical standpoint, this significantly complicates the situation around Chernobyl.
Greenpeace also highlights the inadequacy of restrictions on the activities of the Russian nuclear sector, particularly “Rosatom,” despite the existing risks to global security.
Chernobyl’s Stability at Risk: International Coordination Needed
The Chernobyl zone remains a potentially dangerous site that requires continuous monitoring even decades after the 1986 disaster. The new protective confinement was supposed to guarantee long-term radiation isolation and the possibility of safely dismantling the remnants of the reactor. However, new damage caused by Russian aggression raises doubts about the sustainability of this process, emphasizing the need for rapid technical solutions and active international cooperation.
In addition, a 2 MW solar power plant is being established in the Chernobyl area, implemented as a result of an international tender organized by the UN Development Programme office in Ukraine.